A Brownstown Central High School student has been expelled for a year and faces potential criminal charges after taking a handgun into school Friday morning.

The incident was reported by the youth’s guardian who noticed the gun was missing from a vehicle after the student was dropped off at school, Police Chief Tom Hanner said.

The student didn’t threaten anyone or point the weapon during the incident reported at 11 a.m., Hanner said.

Principal Joe Sheffer said the incident started when the guardian dropped off the student, who had been at an appointment, at the school.

After realizing the gun was missing, the guardian came into the school and notified school officials, Sheffer said.

Sheffer and counselor Derrick Koch located the student and asked him to come to the office.

The gun was found during a search of the student’s backpack, Sheffer said.

Brownstown Officer John Reichenbacker arrived and took the handgun and arrested the student, who was taken to the Jackson County Juvenile Detention Center in Brownstown. The charges he faces were not available at press time.

State law requires any student who brings a weapon into a school be expelled for 365 days.

Sheffer said the incident lasted about 10 minutes, and few people were even aware it had happened.

The student didn’t say why he took the gun and brought it into school, Sheffer added.

Parents, guardians and students were notified of the incident by email.

“We all share a heightened sensitivity to school safety in view of things today,” Sheffer said.