Whitfield County high school senior arrested after gun found in car on campus

A 17-year-old senior at Southeast Whitfield High School was arrested Wednesday morning after school officials and deputies found a handgun and ammunition inside his car on campus, according to the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.

School resource officers responded after administrators received a tip that a student might have a weapon in his vehicle. An on-campus search of the car uncovered a handgun, loaded magazines, and ammunition, leading to the arrest of the student, Gabriel Garcia, who faces charges of possession of a weapon on a school campus, Atlanta News First reported.

Garcia was booked into the Whitfield County Jail without bond. Authorities have not disclosed who provided the initial tip or whether Garcia made any threats prior to the search. The ownership of the firearm has also not been released.

This incident comes shortly after three arrests were made in connection with an alleged shooting plot at Cherokee High School, which was uncovered after the FBI flagged threatening social media posts to the school district's police department, according to Atlanta News First.

Officials continue to investigate the situation at Southeast Whitfield High School. More updates are expected as the story develops.