An Edison High School student was arrested this morning (Thursday) for allegedly bringing a gun to the Rose Hill school.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, a student alerted the school resource officer (SRO) assigned to Edison “about a possible firearm on school property.”
“The SRO immediately brought in other officers and located a 16-year-old student with the firearm. No one was injured,” the FCPD said in a tweet at 12:27 p.m.
The teen, who had reportedly been showing the gun to other students, was taken into custody and the handgun confiscated, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis and Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid said in a joint message.
Officers will remain on the property to ensure safety in the area. The student involved was arrested and the investigation is ongoing. Stay tuned to our blog for more info: https://t.co/kqhVbluBkV (2/2)
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) February 20, 2025
While officers searched for the student, Edison implemented a “Stay Put, Stay Tuned” safety protocol that directs administrators and staff to keep students in their classrooms and out of the hallways.
After the arrest, officers remained at the school “to ensure safety in the area,” the FCPD said, and a police dog trained to detect weapons conducted a full search of the facility.
Currently in custody at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center, the student has been charged with possession of a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a minor, and possession of a firearm on school property, the FCPD announced in a 9:30 p.m. update.
In an update on Friday (Feb. 21), the department announced that a second Edison student has been arrested.
“After a comprehensive investigation by our TAM Unit, detectives identified a 17-year-old student who had previously shared possession of the same handgun and took him into custody,” the FCPD said.
The second student has been charged with possessing and brandishing a firearm on school property and is also in custody at the county’s Juvenile Detention Center.
Edison will have “an increased presence of officers” during the investigation, which is still underway, according to the police department.
More from Reid and Davis on FCPS’ safety procedures:
We are grateful for the close working partnership that exists between FCPS and FCPD. We are coordinated and swift in our response to any safety concerns at a school. FCPD’s Threat Assessment Management Unit (TAM), a new and industry-leading specialty unit, is often a partner in this work as well.
Our administrative teams meet with OSS and our school resource officers (SROs) regularly to review our procedures and to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to keep our students and staff safe while they are in our schools. Our security operations are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Our crisis and emergency response plans have been cited as a national model. We continually work with county, state, and federal health, safety, and emergency personnel leaders to ensure coordinated responses to potential threats. We also drill for emergency situations and then review and revise plans as needed.
Today, our process worked. It began with a brave community member who spoke up. Everyone has a part in keeping our schools safe, and it is critical that when you see something, you say something. Please remind your child that if they see something, it is their responsibility to say something whether that be to a trusted adult, through the anonymous FCPS tipline, or by calling 911.
Our schools are at the heart of our communities, and we have a shared interest in their safety and success. Together, all things are possible.
