Police say a 14-year-old Winter Haven boy brought a gun, ammunition and two knives to school because he wanted to feel “powerful” and “cool” after listening to rap music.

Winter Haven Police Department officers responded to Winter Haven Christian School at 2 p.m. on April 4.

School officials had called police after a gun, two knives and ammunition were discovered in the boy’s backpack, which was inside a school locker. 

When officers arrived, they were directed to the principal’s office where the backpack was located. Inside the backpack were two knives, one was a butterfly style knife and the other was a SOG brand folding pocket knife. Also found was a Kimel AP-9 semi-automatic pistol with 11 rounds of ammunition.

The student told investigators that he recently had been listening to rap music and wanted to bring the gun to feel “powerful” and “cool”.  

Winter Haven police say the boy took the gun from his home the night before. The gun belongs to his father.

The boy was taken into custody and booked into the Polk County Detention for Juvenile Justice on charges of one count of Possession of a Firearm on School Grounds (F3) and two counts of Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds (F3).

Police say no students or staff members were injured and there was never any threat given by the student to harm anyone.

“This should hopefully serve as a warning to any student who thinks it’s cool to carry a weapon, especially on school grounds,” said Winter Haven Police Chief Charlie Bird. “There is absolutely no room for “cool” when it involves any sort of weapon in a school with the recent events our country has endured.”

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