Student, 18, charged with having gun in Rock Hill school after lockdown, police say
An 18-year-old student faces charges after two Rock Hill schools were placed on preventative lockdown on May 26 when a gun fell out of a student’s pocket.
Malik Daishon Byers, 18, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm on school property, according to a Rock Hill police report.
Flexible Learning Center and Belleview Elementary both ended their lockdown at about 11:15 a.m. that day, said Mychal Frost, communications director for Rock Hill school district.
On May 31, Byers turned himself in, telling his mother the firearm was under a mattress in their home, the report says.
Officers went to the home and recovered a black BB gun from under the mattress, the report states.
The schools were on lockdown for less than an hour, Frost said. Police say no threats were made. Frost said there was no threat to the public.
Rock Hill police spokesperson Capt. Mark Bollinger said officers were patrolling the campus of the Flexible Learning Center after a gun was spotted falling out of a man’s pocket.
The man picked up the gun, according to police, and immediately left, heading outside to the front lot.
Police say the man spoke to students, then fled by foot.
The Flexible Learning Center, 1234 Flint St. Extension, houses three of the school district’s alternative programs, Frost said. He said six students were on campus at the time.
He said all students were safe, and normal operations resumed inside the center that day.
This story was originally published June 1, 2017 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Student, 18, charged with having gun in Rock Hill school after lockdown, police say."