FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. — One person is in police custody after posing as a student and riding a school bus to a Franklin County high school.
Devin Reed, 23, of Chambersburg, told the bus driver he was a newly enrolled student at James Buchanan High School, a criminal complaint states. When he arrived at the main office and provided the fake name "Jameis Creed," administration realized he was not a new student and did not have a legitimate purpose for being in the building. Administrators contacted the School Police Officer, who took the suspect into custody.
According to a statement from the district, school officials put the building in lockdown to keep students and staff in their current locations. Administrators also contacted Pennsylvania State Police, who arrested Reed.
An initial investigation allegedly discovered that the suspect had alcoholic drinks, a vape pen and a gun inside his backpack. School officials say he never displayed the items at any time during his bus ride or time in the school.
Reed allegedly told State Police that he had gotten extremely drunk the night before and was still intoxicated when he left the house where he was drinking and decided to try posing as a student for the day.
The superintendent says Reed had minimal interaction with the small group of students riding the bus at the same time and that he did not make any threatening statements during the day's events.
The district declined to share additional details of the incident due to the ongoing investigation. PSP is investigating the situation and charged Reed with possess weapon on school property, defiant trespass posted on school grounds, public drunkenness and similar misconduct, and disorderly conduct hazardous/physical offense.
The superintendent's statement reads in part:
I understand that today’s events are unsettling and I want to assure you that the safety and security of our Tuscarora School District students, faculty and staff remains our highest priority.
While the police conduct an investigation into the individual involved in this situation, our District will be investigating what events led to the individual being permitted to board one of our school buses in this isolated incident.
We are committed to creating a safe environment for our students in all aspects of their Tuscarora School District experience and will continue to review our policies, procedures and processes to ensure, to the greatest degree possible, that a situation such as this does not occur in the future.
I will share additional information with our families and staff if it is available and appropriate to do so.
Thank you for your continued support of the Tuscarora School District.
