Mesquite Independent School District’s new clear backpack policy seemingly yielded immediate results, with a gun reportedly spotted in a student’s bag on the first day of school.
At John Horn High School, the school year kicked off with a 17-year-old student being found with a concealed weapon at the doors of the facility. School officials had been enforcing the new bag policy when the incident occurred.
Mesquite ISD students returned to school on August 7 to a new rule barring students grades K to 12 from carrying any bag — including purses, totes, and backpacks — that is not see-through.
As previously covered in The Dallas Express, this is one of a few safety protocols at Mesquite ISD, including the requirement that students in grades 6-12 show ID at school events.
The district also leverages a confidential online portal designed to gather safety-related insights and tips called P3 Campus.
As reported by Mesquite police, Demarea Smith was reluctant to comply with the new bag policy upon his arrival at school at around 9 a.m.
Staff allegedly noticed him acting suspiciously, trying to conceal his noncompliant bag among others being stored in a secure room, according to The Dallas Morning News.
With the help of a service dog trained to detect firearms, school resource officers allegedly found a Ruger 9mm in Smith’s bag.
Smith was taken into custody and now faces a third-degree felony charge of unlawful carrying of a weapon in a place where they are prohibited.
Currently held on a $15,000 bond at the Mesquite jail, Smith may face up to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000 if found guilty.
According to Mesquite police, the pistol had been reported stolen, but the weapon’s registered owner and any pending charges related to the young man’s alleged possession of it were not disclosed, according to the DMN.
Mesquite ISD stated in a news release that the student will also be held accountable for Monday’s incident in accordance with the student code of conduct.
Officials also credited the new bag rule for demonstrating its effectiveness right off the bat.
“Clear backpacks are not a single solution to ensure campus safety; however, today’s incident shows they can be an important part of a multi-layered safety plan,” the release said, according to WFAA.
As reported in The Dallas Express, Dallas ISD has implemented a similar clear bag rule for all its campuses this upcoming term. There has been some pushback to the initiative, with some parents pointing out that weapons can still be concealed within them and students aren’t the only perpetrators of school violence.