ALBERTVILLE — An Albertville High School student was arrested Monday after a loaded gun was found in his backpack.
According to Albertville City Schools, the student, Djovani Jean-Pierre, left school around 9 a.m. Monday and returned later that afternoon at roughly 2:55 for football practice. After receiving a tip that the student was possibly carrying a weapon, school resource officer Gilbert Lucero confronted Jean-Pierre and asked to search his bag. The student attempted to flee and was tased twice by Lucero. A school administrator then discovered the loaded weapon in the student's backpack.
During a press conference Tuesday, Police said Jean-Pierre allegedly stole the gun early Monday morning from a victim in Arab, which is what led to the confrontation with the SRO, and had no intent of using the weapon at school.
Marshall County District Attorney Jennifer Bray said Jean-Pierre, 16, would be tried in adult court on a four-charge warrant, including first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, minor in possession of a weapon and resisting arrest. The theft and possession charges are both felonies that carry up to 10 years to life in prison if convicted, Bray said.
Albertville City Schools Superintendent Bart Reeves said the school system had a zero-tolerance policy regarding violence or threats of violence. Like many other schools across the state, several students had made online threats against the school system in recent weeks.
"We want to stress the importance of our students understanding the severity of making threats, even in jest," he said. "...Parents, I want to remind you again, talk to your students about making threats at school. We're going to treat all those that's credible. We're going to turn them into the Albertville PD and see what happens from there."
Bray said the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and more arrests are possible regarding the theft of the firearm.
The officials did not take questions during the press conference.
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