Substitute Teacher’s Backpack Sparks Lockdown at Maryland High School
A high school in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, found itself on lockdown one Friday afternoon due to an unexpected discovery. A handgun was uncovered inside a backpack, and it belonged to none other than a substitute teacher.
Principal Kevin Carr of Glen Burnie High School relayed the incident in a letter to families. The substitute teacher, as students left for their next class during third period, had unintentionally left the backpack behind in a classroom. Subsequently, a staff member in that classroom stumbled upon the bag and peeked inside, curious to identify its owner. To their shock, the bag contained a handgun, prompting the school to initiate a lockdown. During this lockdown, students were confined to their classrooms, and entry to the hallways was restricted.
The police swiftly took control of the firearm, and an investigation revealed that the handgun was the property of the substitute teacher, who had moved to another classroom. Law enforcement apprehended the substitute teacher, who is now barred from ever working as a substitute or in any capacity within Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Principal Carr emphasized, “We have no evidence indicating that the backpack was ever in a student’s possession today, and there is no information suggesting the handgun was taken out of the backpack.”
Carr praised the students for their remarkable composure during the incident. He noted that they remained calm, orderly, and followed staff instructions.
In summary, a substitute teacher’s backpack containing a handgun led to a lockdown at a Maryland high school, with the situation being promptly resolved without harm to students.