Peoria Police: Centennial High School student accused of having gun in backpack

Officials with Peoria Police Department say a 16-year-old student of Centennial High School is accused of bringing a gun onto school grounds Monday.

According to a statement released by police Monday afternoon, the teen, who was not identified, was arrested at around 10:00 a.m., after school administrators caught him smoking marijuana wax in a school restroom. The teen then told school administrators that he had a gun, and a School Resource Officer later found a 9mm handgun with 11 rounds in the magazine inside the student's backpack.

The teen, according to police, claimed he was holding the gun for another person, but he did not provide any information as to who the person was. The teen did not make any threats toward the school or others. The teen has been booked into the Durango Juvenile Detention Center on a charge of carrying a weapon on school grounds, in addition to drug charges.

FOX 10 has obtained a letter sent by Principal Bill Sorensen of Centennial High School to the parents of those who attend the school.

The "Modified Monday" mentioned in the letter refers to students being released from class two hours earlier than their regular release time on Mondays during the school year. Classes began at Centennial High School on August 7.