NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A high schooler has been arrested for bringing a weapon onto campus, according to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.
Elijah Lesine, 18, was taken into custody on Thursday, Oct. 16. NHCSO School Resource Officers and the K9, Hammer, located a stolen 9mm handgun allegedly in Lesine’s backpack. He has been charged with:
- Possession of a stolen firearm
- Possession of a weapon on school grounds
- Carrying a concealed firearm
Law enforcement response was swift, according to the sheriff’s office, to ensue the safety of students and staff; there were no injuries.
The suspect is in the New Hanover County Detention Center and received $5,000 bond.
New Hanover County Schools Superintendent Chris Barnes expressed gratitude to law enforcement in a district release Friday.
“The care, professionalism, and dedication of our SRO and K-9 units, as well as the dedication of the staff at the school, bring not only safety but also a sense of reassurance to our schools,” he wrote. “Their daily presence helps strengthen relationships, build trust, and create a secure environment where every student can focus on learning and growing.”
Around 45 SROs serve the district and in 2023 K9 units also were brought in an effort to deter risks and create positive relationships with students.
“The K-9 teams will continue to conduct random, unannounced searches to support a drug-free and weapon-free learning environment across NHCS campuses,” the district noted.
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