Tampa Republic

TAMPA, FL. (September 12, 2024) -- Just after noon, the Tampa Police School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Blake High School, located at 1701 N. Boulevard, arrested 15-year-old Antwan Colding after he was found to have two loaded guns on school grounds.

A search of students who had been found by school staff to be vaping in the restroom led to the discovery of the weapons. There were no threats made to any individual or the school itself. No injuries were reported.

"The discovery of loaded firearms in the possession of a teen on a school campus is deeply troubling and alarming," said Chief Lee Bercaw. "Our School Resource Officers work tirelessly to maintain a safe learning environment, and they play a vital role in identifying and addressing potential threats before they can escalate. While we are thankful that no one was injured, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of gun safety and that we must all continue working together to prevent such occurrences."

Colding was charged with two counts of Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds and will be transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC). Additional charges may be pending as this remains an active investigation while detectives work to determine how the juvenile came into possession of the guns.

An arrest photo is not yet available.

The Tampa Police Department urges gun owners to ensure the safe storage of all firearms. To promote responsible gun ownership, the department offers free gun locks through its "Project: Locked & Unloaded" initiative. These locks are available for pickup at all Tampa Police District Offices, Headquarters, and select city libraries.

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Tampa, Florida 33602

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