14-year-old Bay Area girl arrested after bringing handgun to school

A "secure hold" was placed on the campus for 20 minutes.

admin September 17, 2026 2 minutes read

A 14-year-old student at Casa Grande High School was arrested Wednesday following reports that she had brought a handgun to school, police said.

Police first learned of the reports at around 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, according to a statement by the Petaluma Police Department released later that day. Officers arrived at the campus — which also includes Sonoma Mountain High School — which was “placed on a secure hold” for about 20 minutes starting at 11:15 a.m., according to an earlier statement from Petaluma City Schools district Superintendent Davina Goldwasser.

The “secure hold” occurred during a passing period and was not was considered a full lockdown, Goldwasser told the Argus-Courier.

Police said officers “worked closely with school staff to identify and locate the student” and “safely detained her without incident.” According to police, officers subsequently found a handgun “inside the student’s backpack. The firearm was not loaded, and no injuries were reported in connection with this incident.”

By 11:35 a.m., “normal school operations were able to resume,” police said.

The student, who was not identified, was booked into Sonoma County Juvenile Hall on suspected violations including being a minor in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm on school grounds.

Police say the investigation is ongoing as “investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the student came into possession of the firearm and whether any additional individuals were involved.”

In her statement, Goldwasser said that “situations like this can be stressful for students and families. Students who need support are encouraged to speak with a trusted adult on campus, and our counseling and mental health staff are available.”