Whitfield County high schooler arrested after gun, ammunition found in car, deputies say

ShareAdd Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on GoogleATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A Whitfield County high school student has been arrested after deputies say he brought a gun to the campus. Gabriel Garcia, a 17-year-old senior at Southeast Whitfield High School, faces a charge of possession of a weapon on a school campus. He is being held in Whitfield County Jail without bond. According to the sheriff’s office, the high school’s administration told school resource officers that a student could have a weapon on campus inside his car. Administration searched the vehicle, where they allegedly found a handgun, ammunition and loaded magazines. The incident comes shortly after three people were arrested after being accused of planning a shooting at Cherokee High School. That investigation began after the FBI flagged threatening social media posts to the school district’s police department. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 3 arrested in alleged Cherokee High School shooting plotOne juvenile, a former student, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and disruption of a public school. Shane Taylor, 17, and 21-year-old Michael Terry of Chatsworth, California, were also taken into custody and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, authorities said. This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First as we learn more. Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A Whitfield County high school student has been arrested after deputies say he brought a gun to the campus. Gabriel Garcia, a 17-year-old senior at Southeast Whitfield High School, faces a charge of possession of a weapon on a school campus. He is being held in Whitfield County Jail without bond. According to the sheriff’s office, the high school’s administration told school resource officers that a student could have a weapon on campus inside his car. Administration searched the vehicle, where they allegedly found a handgun, ammunition and loaded magazines. The incident comes shortly after three people were arrested after being accused of planning a shooting at Cherokee High School. That investigation began after the FBI flagged threatening social media posts to the school district’s police department. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 3 arrested in alleged Cherokee High School shooting plotOne juvenile, a former student, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and disruption of a public school. Shane Taylor, 17, and 21-year-old Michael Terry of Chatsworth, California, were also taken into custody and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, authorities said. This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First as we learn more.