Delaware State Police

Superintendent Colonel Melissa Zebley

Teen Arrested for Drug and Gun Possession on School Property

Date Posted: Thursday, September 14th, 2023

News Release text with State Police vehicle in the background

The Delaware State Police arrested a 17-year-old male from New Castle, Delaware, for drug and gun offenses yesterday morning at Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School in Newark.

On September 13, 2023, at approximately 8:38 a.m., the Delaware State Police School Resource Officer at Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, located at 2575 Glasgow Avenue, Newark, was notified by school staff of a report of drugs and a gun inside of a student’s vehicle. The school’s staff confirmed the vehicle was parked in the school’s parking lot and the student, identified as a 17-year-old male, was in class. The student was removed from his classroom and a search of his vehicle was conducted. The search led to the discovery of approximately 2.18 grams of marijuana, and a loaded handgun that was concealed in a black satchel. The student was taken into custody without incident. There were no threats stated or implied towards students or staff at the school and the school day proceeded as normal.

The student was taken to Troop 2, where he was charged with the following crimes:

Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited who also Possesses a Controlled Substance (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Juvenile (Felony)
Possession of a Weapon in a Safe School Zone by a Student
Possession of Marijuana by a Person Under 18

The 17-year-old student was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center on a $20,100 cash bond.