Melbourne, Florida — A 17-year-old Melbourne student was arrested Friday morning after allegedly attempting to enter Palm Bay Magnet High School with a loaded handgun, according to Melbourne police. Thanks to the school’s newly installed weapons detection system, officials intercepted the student before he could make it past the front checkpoint.
The incident happened around 9 a.m., and authorities emphasized that no students or staff were harmed.
Security System Flags Weapon Immediately
Police said the school’s OPENGATE Weapons Detection System — a screening device set up at entry points — alerted staff the moment the teen approached with the weapon.
According to officials, the firearm was “immediately confiscated.”
“The student did not make it beyond the security checkpoint and there are no known threats at this time,” police stated. “We commend the vigilance and professionalism of the staff, whose swift response ensured the safety of everyone on campus.”
Brevard Schools Credit System With Preventing a Potential Tragedy
Brevard Public Schools praised the technology, saying the system “potentially saved lives today.”
District officials noted that all high schools in the county are now equipped with OPENGATE devices and that they hope to install them in middle schools next year.
The teen — whose name was not released because he is a minor — is now facing serious charges, including:
- Possession of a firearm on school grounds
- Possession of a firearm by a minor
Parents and Students React: “It Breaks My Heart”
The incident left many families shaken, but grateful the system worked exactly as intended.
“It breaks my heart to see what’s going on with this world,” said Cathy Fratos, a grandparent. “Shootings and kids — it’s horrible.”
Students echoed the relief.
“They caught him really fast,” said senior Alexa Nichols. “He couldn’t even get into the school.”
Nichols added that the metal detectors help her feel more secure:
“It makes me feel a lot safer knowing that it actually works… knowing that they got somebody with it the first time something like this happened is nice to know.”
Second Time This Year a Weapon Was Caught at a Brevard School
This isn’t the first time the district’s detection systems have intercepted a gun.
In February, officials said the OPENGATE system at Cocoa High School flagged a student carrying a firearm — a case where, again, no injuries occurred.
District communications representative Janet Murnaghan highlighted the significance of these back-to-back preventions.
“I think now we’ve had two instances where we have caught a weapon before it got on campus… and I think families see that. They see the value.”
Community Praises Fast Response, Zero Injuries
Authorities reiterated that all students and staff are safe, crediting both the security technology and the quick actions of school employees.
The district says the successful intervention reaffirms its commitment to expanding the OPENGATE system across Brevard County schools.
The investigation remains ongoing, but officials say there is no active threat to the campus.
Do you support weapon detection systems in all middle and high schools? Share your thoughts in the comments — parents, students, and educators, your voice matters.
