BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) -- According to the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, two students are facing charges after a loaded handgun and ammunition were found at T.C. Roberson High School on Tuesday morning.
"I would say that we work very diligently with the schools to keep the environment safe as possible," Capt. Dustan Auldredge of the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, said.
Auldredge said the sheriff's office works closely with schools to maintain safety and ensure rapid response when incidents occur.
"Anytime that there is a verified weapon in the school, there is going to be a large response from law enforcement, whether it be just SROs (School Resource Officers) and supervision, our investigative division, our crime scene investigation to ensure that we thoroughly document and collect what we need to collect to be able to move forward with any criminal charges," he said.
The sheriff's office said a 17-year-old student had a loaded handgun, and a 15-year-old student had ammunition.
TWO NC STUDENTS ARRESTED, CHARGED AFTER LOADED GUN AND AMMO FOUND ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
Officials said school resource officers and investigators are always present in schools, but students also have access to reporting tools if they feel unsafe.
"There is a see something, say something app that most students have access to and they can report anonymously. That information is disseminated quickly to the school resource officers, the communications center and to school officials as well," Auldredge said.
According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, T.C. Roberson High School reported 38 crimes on campus in 2025. The data does not specify the incidents, but reportable offenses include possession of a gun on school property and assault, among others.
Local organizations say preventing teen violence starts at home.
"A lot of the time that anger and that frustration comes from lack of resources and not having or having the opportunities to be able to go and get things or do things," Shawn Smart, a community health worker with My Daddy Taught Me That, said.
Leaders said they are working to reduce violence through mentorship and education programs.
"We are going to the school systems, do a mentorship programs and what we do is go in and kind of educate them on gun violence and what not to do and when the resources to give them to know what to do in a crisis situation," Van Wilkins,a lead community health worker with My Daddy Taught Me That,said.
The sheriff's office said no one at T.C. Roberson was injured. Both teens are facing charges, including felony possession of a gun on school grounds.
The Buncombe County School District declined an interview.