Newark Police Arrest Juvenile When Loaded Firearm Was Recovered at School Event

On January 21, 2026, at approximately 3:30 PM, the Newark Police Department’s School Resource Officer (SRO) was notified that a Christina School District Constable had recovered a loaded firearm during a mandatory security screening for entry into a school sporting event at Newark High School.

The SRO responded and took custody of the firearm. A juvenile female was initially detained after the firearm was located inside a backpack in her possession. During the subsequent investigation, it was determined that the firearm and backpack belonged to her boyfriend, a 17-year-old juvenile male. The female had no knowledge of the contents of the backpack.

Further investigation revealed that the juvenile male had brought the firearm onto school property and transferred the backpack to the female prior to the security screening. Once the female was stopped by security personnel, the male left the area.

Additional Newark Police officers responded to the school and conducted a search for the male both inside the school and in the surrounding area. He was later located at his residence and taken into custody without incident.

The defendant was charged with the following offenses:

• Possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 21 Years of Age
• Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon
• Possession of a Firearm in a Safe Recreation Zone

The defendant was arraigned before a Justice of the Peace Court #11 judge, issued $15,000 unsecured bail, and released to a parent.