MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Memphis Police Department says a 15-year-old boy has been criminally charged with bringing a handgun to school on Friday.

MPD credits multiple students at Freedom Preparatory High School in Whitehaven for noticing their classmate’s suspicious behavior and bringing it to a school resource officer’s attention.

Police were called to the school for a report of an armed person at 2:13 p.m. after the school’s officer had already placed the boy in cuffs and secured the 9mm handgun.

That officer told Memphis police that several students ran to him and said that they saw their classmate reach into his backpack, pull the gun out, and hide it behind a painting while they were sitting together.

MPD says the suspect told them that he never brandished the weapon, and that

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