A student charged with possessing a loaded handgun Tuesday at Gaithersburg High School was first approached by school security staff that day because of reports that he possessed drugs, according to charging documents filed by Montgomery County police in the District Court in Silver Spring.
About 10:46 a.m. Tuesday, Gaithersburg City police community engagement officers responded to the school at 101 Education Blvd. for a complaint of a controlled dangerous substance on campus, charging documents said.
Security then brought Josue Rivas, 18, of Gaithersburg to the school’s main office due to “the suspicion” that he was in possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Rivas became nervous while security staffers tried to search him, according to charging documents.
Attorney information for Rivas was not available Thursday morning.
Rivas told the security staffers he would only consent to the search if it happened off campus at a police station and also “made statements about knowing he could be arrested,” which led officers to believe he possessed contraband, charging documents stated.
While security was escorting Rivas out of the school, he then confessed that he had a Glock 26, a 9 mm pistol, inside his backpack, according to charging documents.
An officer searched his backpack and found a privately made firearm, commonly known as a “ghost gun,” in the front pocket, and the magazine loaded with live ammunition was found in another part of the bag, charging documents stated.
The charging documents did not indicate whether police located drugs on Rivas or in his belongings.
Rivas was arrested and taken to the Gaithersburg City police station to be interviewed, where he allegedly told police that he had possessed the gun for around a year and that it did not have a serial number, according to charging documents.
Under Maryland law as of March 1, “a person may not possess an unserialized firearm.” The law addresses the issue that individuals who purchase firearm parts kits online can possess a fully functional gun without passing a background check.
According to the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, “ghost guns are difficult for law enforcement to trace because there is no paper trail of background checks and ownership, and no serial number that could lead law enforcement back to the buyer.”
Rivas was then transported to the Montgomery County Detention Center in Rockville where he is being held without bond, according to digital court records.
He was charged with underage possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded handgun, possession of a dangerous weapon on school property and possession of a firearm without a serial number, according to digital court records.
Gaithersburg High School Principal Cary Dimmick sent a letter to the community Tuesday addressing the situation:
“We want to thank our school security staff, as well as our Community Education Officers Amy Ovalle and Robert Blackmon, as well as our City of Gaithersburg Police partners, for all their unwavering support as we continue to ensure a safe and secure environment for all our students, staff, and visitors.”