Weapon found in Concord student's backpack

ELKHART — A student found with a handgun at Concord High School will not be returning to the school, administrators made clear in a note to parents and students Monday.

School administrators were made aware at about 1 p.m. Monday that a student may have brought a gun to school, the note said. Within minutes, the student was located in the school office and the backpack was confiscated without incident.

An unloaded 9mm gun was found inside the backpack. Concord Community Schools Police Department officers also located a switchblade and bullets in the student's pants pocket, administrator said.

The note to parents described the situation as an "isolated incident" pertaining only to this student.

"The student who brought the gun to school is currently detained at the Elkhart County Juvenile Detention Center, pending charges of possession of a firearm while on school property, and possession of a knife while on school property," the note said. "The case will be referred to the prosecutor's office. Again, the student will not be returning to Concord High School."