Police say a student at Opelousas Junior High School was arrested Thursday after it was found that he allegedly had a knife on campus.
Superintendent Patrick Jenkins says the knife was in the student's pocket and he did not threaten anyone and was not showing the weapon.
The student was asked to hand over the knife after a school resource officer spotted it, according to Jenkins. The 14-year-old complied, but when the SRO informed the student he would be arrested, he became non-compliant. The SRO then used a taser on the student.
We're told the student is okay and has been released to his mother's custody.
The student is facing the following charges: illegal carrying weapon on school grounds, resisting an officer, battery of an officer, and misrepresentation.
This is the second time this week a weapon was found on the campus.
On Monday, a 14-year-old student at Opelousas Junior High was arrestedafter police say they brought a gun to school and pointed it at several students.
Some parents of OJHS students say getting two calls about two weapons on campus in a matter of days is beyond nerve-racking.
"You're scared. You don't know what's going on. It's not much you can get when you call the administrator because I know they're out there trying to handle it, so it's kind of a panic," said Dramanda Sonnier.
Sonnier's son attends the school.
"He's going to look at it like it's normal because it's happening so much to where they're becoming to be immune with this," explained Sonnier.
She said she didn't experience these kinds of crimes when she attended the school and that something must be done.
"These kids are teenagers. Their life has not even begun yet. It's scary." Sonnier continues, "We have too many people going to jail. Too many of our youth, we're losing."
Sonnier believes it's important parents talk to their kids and understand what's happening.
"If you feel that your child is bad, because they know if they're bad or not, check your kids' book sacks," said Sonnier. "Just be aware of what's going on, and maybe we can stop it because it all starts at home."
Jenkins says students reported seeing the gun on campus Monday and have been reporting these types of incidents because they want to be safe.
The superintendent went on to say he is proud of the students for reporting and speaking up and that the school system is doing its best to get weapons off campuses in the parish.
The Opelousas Police Department has committed four officers to the OJHS campus at this time.
