News Summary
An 11-year-old Harris Middle School student faced legal repercussions after bringing a firearm and ammunition to school. Alerted by a fellow student, authorities arrested him for unlawful carrying of a weapon. During court proceedings, the boy expressed remorse, recognizing the gravity of his actions. He received a year of deferred adjudication with strict conditions aimed at ensuring school safety. The incident has sparked community discussions about firearm access among youth and the urgent need for cooperative efforts to enhance security in educational settings.
San Antonio – An 11-year-old student at Harris Middle School has been sentenced after bringing a firearm and approximately 60 rounds of ammunition to school last May. The incident raised significant concerns regarding school safety and the accessibility of weapons among young students.
The young boy was arrested after school authorities were alerted by another student who reported that he had a gun in his backpack. Following the incident, he was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon at a prohibited place, a third-degree felony, marking his first criminal offense.
During a court appearance on June 18, 2025, the boy pleaded guilty to the charges against him. His defense attorney shared that the boy did not make any threats and fully recognized that what he did was wrong. In a show of remorse, the boy addressed the court and extended an apology to Judge William “Cruz” Shaw.
As part of a plea deal, the boy was sentenced to one year of deferred adjudication, which operates similarly to probation. This means he must adhere to several strict conditions, including a 7 p.m. curfew, random drug testing, a commitment to maintain good behavior at school, participation in family and grief counseling sessions, and an explicit prohibition from being around weapons.
Principal Walonda Whitaker at Harris Middle School responded to the incident, highlighting its seriousness and calling for a cooperative approach between parents, teachers, and the broader community to bolster school safety. There have been rising concerns in Bexar County regarding students bringing weapons to educational institutions, raising alarms about gun access in the area.
The court learned that the boy had brought the gun to school “just in case” a shooting occurred, this statement reflecting the disturbing climate surrounding youth perceptions of safety in schools today. This brings to light the ongoing debates about safety measures, mental health, and gun control, which have become increasingly urgent issues in communities across the country.
The young boy’s case is not an isolated incident. In recent months, local school districts have had to contend with multiple occurrences of students in Bexar County possessing weapons on campus. This trend raises pressing questions about how to prevent such situations and what can be done to ensure that students feel safe while being able to focus on their education.
The school administration and community leaders have been urged to come together to find effective strategies to address these safety concerns, with initiatives aimed at educating students about the serious implications of bringing weapons to school. Discussions regarding mental health support and the availability of resources for families dealing with similar issues are slated to be a focus area moving forward.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that schools face in ensuring a safe learning environment, while also highlighting the need for community engagement and education on responsible behavior related to firearms. The ramifications of this incident will be felt not only by the young boy and his family but also by the school and the wider San Antonio community as they navigate the complexities of safety in schools.
As the young boy embarks on a year of deferred adjudication, all eyes will remain on how the courts, schools, and families respond to the pressing issue of weapon possession in educational settings, in a climate increasingly fraught with anxiety and urgency surrounding safety and security in schools.
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Additional Resources
- KSAT News
- San Antonio Express-News
- Fox San Antonio
- CNN
- KTSA News
- Wikipedia: School Safety
- Google Search: Gun Violence in Schools
- Google Scholar: School Gun Control
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Gun Control
- Google News: School Safety
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
