AUSTIN -- Police have identified the 17-year-old former student who was arrested Thursday after school officials said he was found on campus with a loaded gun.
The student -- identified in a police affidavit as Eduardo Mercado-Del Valle -- drove to campus and was recognized by an administrator as he was parking at 1:55 p.m. The administrator immediately notified the Austin Independent School District police officer on campus.
As the officer approached the former student's vehicle, the affidavit stated that the officer asked Mercado-Del Valle if he had a driver's license. He allegedly replied that he did not. The officer then asked Mercado-Del Valle to step out of the vehicle. Mercado-Del Valle was allegedly hesitant to get out. The officer then said he looked inside the vehicle and saw in plain view a black and silver handgun in an opened console behind the gear shifter.
Mercado-Del Valle then stepped out of the vehicle. He was placed in a police unit.
After searching the vehicle, the officer said he found that the gun was loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition and that the 17-year-old had marijuana in his pocket.
"Maintaining the safety of our school is our top priority at Akins, and we are committed to letting you know about incidents that occur on campus," wrote Principal Brandi Hosack in a letter sent to parents Thursday.
He was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of marijuana. As of Friday, Mercado-Del Valle is currently in custody with a total bond set at $7,000 according to online records.
"We all work together to keep our campus and each other safe, and I want to commend our administrator and our AISD police officer for their quick actions," Hosack wrote.
A former student was arrested in February for threatening to "shoot and blow up" the same high school. Hosack did not indicate that this incident was related, nor was this former student identified.
