(02/28/03)A 17-year-old student was arrested Thursday and charged with taking a gun to Warren Central Junior High School.

Derrick C. Williams, 2234 Grove St. Apartment B, was charged with possession of a firearm on school property.

He was released from jail on a $5,000 bond and has been suspended from school for nine days and awaits a disciplinary hearing, school officials said.

“One of our students tipped off the assistant principal that something was in a locker that shouldn’t be there,” Principal Pam Wilbanks said. “The assistant principal found the jacket that contained the gun. The gun was not loaded, and no bullets were found,” she said.

Admininstrators placed the gun in a vault, called the Vicksburg Police Department and interviewed the student, Wilbanks said. “He admitted to bringing the gun and said he took it from his home.”

The school at 1630 Baldwin Ferry Road has 800 students. A security guard was on duty.

Dr. James Price, district administrative assistant, said no guns have been found in schools since one was confiscated at Vicksburg High School about five years ago.