NASHVILLE – Barquita Williams, 38, was arrested Thursday afternoon for carrying a handgun on school grounds at East Nashville Magnet School, 110 Gallatin Avenue.
Two female students, who had argued earlier in the day, were involved in a physical fight at dismissal after seeing each other in a stairwell. Other students engaged in the altercation.
Parents who were outside to pick up their children heard about the fight and began entering the school, including Williams. After officers broke up the fight, several parents told responding officers that Williams was in possession of a firearm. Williams denied having a gun but consented to a search. A School Resource Officer recovered a loaded nine-millimeter semi-automatic handgun from her person. She was taken into custody and is free on $1,000 bond.
Statement from Metro Nashville Public Schools:
“There was an incident that occurred after school yesterday at East Nashville Magnet High involving students, in which parents got involved. A gun was identified and confiscated from one of the parents. The parent was detained by law enforcement. East High school is committed to the safety and education of all their students. This was a violation of law, and criminal charges will be brought against the parent, and the other parents involved will be banned from the campus. The students involved will be subject to school board policy and disciplinary actions. MNPS Security will be working with the principal to do a security assessment to determine if any changes to procedures need to be made to prevent future incidents like this from happening again.”
