On September 10, 2025, an incident involving a student with a gun took place at La Follette High School. The student, a 17-year-old, had left school and hid the firearm along Pflaum Road, and then returned onto school grounds. Soon after, law enforcement was contacted, and after looking through surveillance footage, identified the student. While the weapon was hidden and unloaded in a yard on the road, inside the student’s backpack were ammunition and a phone that had a picture of the student with the gun dressed the same as they had been on that day. The student was arrested and faces charges of underage possession of a firearm, bearing a concealed weapon, and having a weapon on school grounds.

No injuries or threats with the weapon appeared to result from the incident. The principal of the school, Matthew Thompson, stated: “I recognize that an incident like this can cause anxiety, and I want to assure you we take these matters very seriously. It is also important that we uplift the importance of ‘if you see something, say something,’”. Sword & Shield will not be using the name of the suspect, a minor, at this time as charges are still alleged.