DONNA — A middle school student will face criminal charges after being caught with a small handgun at Todd Middle School on Monday.
According to a news release, the district received a tip about a student with a weapon in their backpack at about 9:50 a.m. Monday.
Donna ISD personnel conducted a search and found the gun; it was confiscated and the student was taken into custody, the release said.
“We are doing additional follow-ups and further increasing security measures during this investigation,” the news release said. “All students and staff are safe and there is no threat at this time. Donna ISD has taken multiple safety measures to include additional law enforcement staff, training, and vigilance to ensure that we are actively monitoring any threats. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority.”
Parents were notified about the incident shortly before noon Monday via text and voice messaging.
A spokesperson for the district said the student who was taken into custody will be charged, but specifics on that charge were unavailable Monday.
“Please note that this is an active investigation and as public information becomes available, we will communicate with parents,” the release said. “The campus has fully implemented safety measures and has both security officers and police officers on site. In the coming weeks, we will increase the law enforcement presence at Todd Middle School and increase the use of measures such as random metal detectors.”
The release urges community members to report concerns and suspicious activity.
Several Rio Grande Valley school districts have been the target of threats in the wake of the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde in May.
Police arrested four students at Donna ISD in May after a credible threat to the district.
Just last week a shooting threat at Edinburg CISD prompted the FBI’s involvement and resulted in the arrest of a former student in Harris County.
