Cops: Nicetown teen to be charged with bringing gun to school

A student at the Randolph Technical High School in Philadelphia's Nicetown neighborhood will face criminal charges including gun possession Thursday after bringing a weapon to school, police said.

The 16-year-old boy, whose name will not be released because he will be charged as a juvenile, was taken into custody Thursday morning after a gun was found in a backpack he was carrying. He remained in custody Thursday afternoon.

The gun was discovered by metal detectors as the student entered the school, at 3101 Henry Ave., a Philadelphia School District spokesman said by email. 

Police were called to the school about 8:45 a.m. The student was taken into custody and no one was injured, police said. A brief lockdown at the school was lifted at 9:54 a.m. 

"Randolph Technical High School was placed on lockdown immediately after a loaded gun was found at the school Thursday morning," H. Lee Whack Jr., the district spokesman, said in a statement. "The lockdown has been lifted after it was determined that there was no further threat and all students and staff are safe. The School District is working in cooperation with the Philadelphia Police Department and all District procedures and protocols are being followed with regard to this matter."