Grain Valley High School student arrested after gun found in student parking lot: Court documents
A Grain Valley High School student was arrested this week after a handgun was found in his car in the school’s parking lot Thursday.
Anthony D. Bergeron, 18, was charged in Jackson County court with felony unlawful use of a weapon, in the category of bringing a weapon onto school property.
A GVHS school resource officer approached Bergeron in his car in the student parking lot around 9 a.m. Thursday after at least one other staff member smelled marijuana wafting from the car with its door open, according to court documents.
The SRO, Justin Pereira, searched the car and found a bag of marijuana and a Glock 9mm handgun, according to court documents. An extended magazine and gun ownership documents were also found in the vehicle.
Bergeron allegedly told Grain Valley police that the gun had been a birthday present from his half-brother, court documents stated. Bergeron also allegedly said that he had been planning to split the marijuana into smaller bags for resale.
Bergeron told police that he had not been planning to bring the weapon into Grain Valley High School, according to court documents. He also allegedly told police that he did not know it was illegal to bring a gun onto school grounds. Court documents did not specify whether the gun was loaded when it was confiscated.
The Grain Valley School District was unavailable Friday to comment on Bergeron’s arrest.
Earlier this year, the Grain Valley School District was among more than 10 Missouri districts that received shooting threats via social media following a fatal shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.
Bergeron was initially held on a $20,000 bond but has been released under courtesy supervision. He will be monitored and prevented from accessing firearms. His next court date has not yet been set.
If convicted, Bergeron could face up to four years in jail and/or a $10,000 fine, according to court records.
