SoLACC, ECA Locked Down After Weapon Found, 1 Student Arrested

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL News) - South Louisiana Community College and the Early College Academy (which is housed on the SoLACC campus) were placed under lockdown on Friday after a student was discovered with a weapon on campus.

One SoLACC student has been arrested in relation to the incident.

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Parents of students at ECA received an alert on Friday afternoon.

"Student caught with gun on campus," a message forwarded to KPEL News said. "ECA Community, SLCC and, subsequently, ECA are currently on lockdown. We will provide you with updates as soon as they are available."

According to an eyewitness statement, there was a large law enforcement presence at the scene, and one person appears to have been arrested.

KPEL News has confirmed that one person, a student at the community college, not ECA, has been arrested. The Lafayette Police Department is currently handling the investigation and released a statement on Friday afternoon.

"On September 27, 2024 at 12:17 pm officers with Lafayette Police Department responded to 320 Devalcourt St, SLCC, in reference to a student on campus with a concealed handgun on his person," LPD Corporal Ashley Wood said in a statement. "With the help of campus security and Lafayette Sheriff’s Deputies School Resource Officers, the suspect, Adrian Harmon (26, B/M) was located in an upstairs classroom and detained without incident."

"Officers were able to secure the firearm and Adrian was placed under arrest," Wood noted. "He will be charged with one count of possession of a firearm; in a firearm free zone and booked into Lafayette Parish Correctional Center."

According to LPD's investigation, Harmon's vehicle had previously been burglarized. He did not want his gun stolen, so he brought it inside the school with him. There is no evidence, LPD says, that he intended to harm anyone with the weapon, and no students or faculty were harmed during the incident.

School zones, law enforcement reminds the public, are firearm-free zones.

Law enforcement agencies across the country have been increasing their response to potentially dangerous situations on school campuses following several high-profile mass shootings. Threats made against schools and weapons being found on campus have been vigorously pursued.

This is a developing story, and the KPEL News Team is working to provide additional coverage for Acadiana. Updates will be shared as they become available, so download the KPEL News app via Google Play or in the App Store and subscribe to breaking news alerts to get the latest information sent directly to your mobile device.

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