A Virginia high school student will spend five years behind bars after bringing a loaded handgun to school earlier this year.
Anthony Orion Dalton, 17, was sentenced on October 8 to a total of nine years in prison, with four years suspended, following his April arrest for carrying a firearm on Franklin County High School’s campus, officials said. He will stay at the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center until he turns 18, at which point he’ll be transferred to an adult facility to finish his sentence.
The incident came to light when Dalton posted a photo of the gun on Snapchat on April 1. A school resource officer noticed the post and, along with a deputy and school administrator, confronted Dalton, discovering the loaded weapon in his backpack.
Dalton was tried as an adult and convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm on school property, and transportation of a firearm by a person under 18.
“This sentencing reflects the severity of the offense and reinforces that weapons have no place in our schools,” Sheriff Bill Overton said. He praised the school resource deputies and staff for their quick response, which helped prevent what could have been a much more serious incident.
Officials say the case is a stark reminder of the consequences of bringing a gun onto school grounds. Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about gun safety, and the sheriff’s office emphasized the importance of the community message: “See something, say something.”
No critical thinking skills