A substitute teacher at a Shelby County elementary school was arrested after bringing a loaded handgun into the school.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office arrested 62-year-old Zack R. Stearns, of Simpsonville, on Friday and charged him with unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The incident began, according to multiple news outlets, after students at Heritage Elementary School noticed a bulge in Stearns’ lower back at approximately 1:30 Friday afternoon. The students alerted staff members who contacted law enforcement.
Upon arrival, deputies located a loaded handgun “tucked into the back of his pants,” Principal Johnna Black said in a statement. The gun did not have a bullet in the chamber but 14 rounds were found in the magazine.
Stearns was lodged in the Shelby County Detention Center but is no longer listed as an inmate.
Heritage Elementary School is in Waddy.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
