High School Teacher Caught Keeping Loaded Gun, Knives Inside Classroom

A North Carolina high school teacher was found to be keeping a loaded gun and other dangerous weapons inside the walls of his classroom, officials have said.

The teacher, identified as Jason Hensley, 47, has been suspended without pay in connection with the incident, the Sacramento Bee reported, citing district administrators. Officials said he may face further action.

Hensley served as a part-time police officer in Mt. Gilead while working as a full-time teacher. He taught health sciences and coached varsity swimming at the Montgomery Central High School in Troy. The school has roughly 780 students attending grades 9 to 12.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said school superintendent Dale Ellis called them to the school on Feb. 5 to inform about the same.

The sheriff's office disclosed in a news release that they found a loaded .380-caliber handgun upon searching Hensley's desk. They also discovered knives and ammunition in the classroom, according to AP News. Deputies seized the recovered gun.

"The school system is devastated by this serious breach of trust," Montgomery County Schools said in a news release, as per the Sacramento Bee. "The Montgomery County Board of Education considers the safety of students the number one priority as well as ensuring that all students have a safe learning environment. Unfortunately, those standards were not met in this circumstance."

"After further investigation, the district also discovered additional concealed items such as knives and ammunition in the teacher’s classroom," the school district added. "The situation was turned over to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department."

Meanwhile, Gilead Police Department Chief Patrick L. Preslar told WXII 12 News that Hensley worked part-time for the department for about 10 years. However, he has been separated from the department since the incident came to light. Preslar also said the gun found in Hensley's classroom was not a service weapon.

Hensley is currently not charged with any crimes. The teacher may have violated the school system's policy, but the sheriff's office said he did not do anything illegal because the state law allows law enforcement officers to have a firearm on an educational property as long as they are not under the influence of alcohol or unlawful controlled substances.

"Hensley's actions may have been in violation of the policies, directives and scope of the Montgomery County School District and/or the Mount Gilead Police Department, but did not meet the elements of being illegal," the sheriff told the outlet.