LOS ANGELES, CA – A student was taken into custody Wednesday morning after administrators discovered a firearm during a search at Santee High School in South Los Angeles, prompting a temporary lockdown on the first day of the new school year.
The incident occurred at Santee High School on Maple Avenue in the northern portion of Historic South-Central, according to the Los Angeles Unified School District.
District officials said an altercation involving students led administrators to conduct a search.
“Circumstances surrounding the altercation led to an administrative search,” an LAUSD representative said. “During the search, it was discovered that the student was in possession of a firearm.”
Officers with the Los Angeles School Police Department responded and took the student into custody without incident. The student’s parents were notified, according to district officials.
Authorities did not release the student’s name, age, grade level or other identifying information.
The campus was placed on lockdown while officials responded to the situation and addressed the firearm discovery. The lockdown was lifted around 10:45 a.m., allowing students to resume their school day.
No injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
Information reviewed by Street People indicates the firearm was discovered as a result of the administrative search rather than because of a reported shooting or active threat on campus. District officials have not provided additional details about the altercation that preceded the search or explained how the student allegedly obtained the weapon.
It also remains unclear whether the firearm was loaded, what type of weapon was recovered or whether investigators believe the student intended to use it.
Los Angeles Unified said the matter is being handled under district policy.
“The matter is being addressed in accordance with Los Angeles Unified policy,” a district representative said.
LAUSD policies prohibit students from bringing firearms and other dangerous weapons onto school campuses. District school policy materials state that possession of firearms or other dangerous weapons can result in suspension or expulsion proceedings, in addition to potential law-enforcement consequences.
The discovery came on the first day of instruction for students in the district, adding heightened attention to campus security as families returned to classrooms for the new school year.
District officials emphasized that school safety concerns should be reported to staff members or appropriate authorities rather than ignored.
Los Angeles Unified also operates an anonymous reporting system designed to allow members of the school community to report non-emergency safety concerns, including suspicious activity.
The Los Angeles School Police Department maintains a 24-hour Communications Center and Watch Commander line at 213-625-6631 for calls for service and police reports involving district schools.
District officials also encouraged parents and guardians to use the incident as an opportunity to speak with students about judgment, personal safety and avoiding dangerous behavior.
Authorities have not announced what criminal charges, if any, the student may face.
The circumstances surrounding the firearm possession and the altercation that prompted the search remain under investigation.
