Two Hillsborough County students were arrested in separate incidents after authorities said they brought firearms onto school campuses.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) said 15-year-old Eddy Martinez Pedro was arrested after deputies said he brought firearm to Strawberry Crest High School on March 9.
According to the sheriff's office, two students were separated following a fight on March 9 around 1 p.m. Pedro was one of the students involved and he fled the scene on foot after school administration took his backpack. Deputies said a firearm fell out of his pants when he was trying to run. Pedro grabbed the firearm and left the school grounds.
HCSO said when deputies arrived, they located Pedro east of U.S.-92 in Dover. Deputies recovered the firearm under a deck nearby.
Pedro was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, minor in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and disrupting a school campus or function.
"Weapons have no place on a school campus and we will always take immediate action when the safety of students and staff is threatened. We encourage people to continue speaking up and reporting suspicious activity," said Sheriff Chad Chronister in a statement.
In a separate incident on March 13, Plant City High School was placed on lockdown after reports of a student having a firearm on campus.
Deputies arrested 16- year-old Neftali Bautista-Lopez on charges including tampering with physical evidence, robbery with a firearm, disrupting school campus or function, minor in possession of a firearm, carrying concealed firearm and possession of a firearm on school property.
According to the sheriff's office, the incident took place around 8:25 a.m. when the school's resource deputy and administrators were notified that a student had a firearm. HCSO said two victims reported Bautista-Lopez approached them demanding cash and threatened them by showing a firearm in his backpack.
HCSO said the robbery involved less than $750.
School officials notified families later that morning that no students were harmed.
The sheriff's office said deputies located Bautista-Lopez later and he told deputies he left the firearm at his friend's house. When deputies arrived at the friend's house, deputies located the money and firearm inside the friend's vehicle. The firearm was not loaded and there was no ammunition.
"Bringing a firearm onto a school campus and threatening students is a serious crime that will never be tolerated," said Chronister in a statement.
HCSO said both investigations remain active.
