DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Detectives have identified the two Deerfield Beach High School students who were taken into custody Monday after deputies said they found drugs and loaded weapons inside a parked sedan at the school.
Authorities confirmed Kameryn McLaughlin and Turell Persaud Ali, both, 17, appeared in Broward County juvenile court Tuesday on separate charges of having weapons on school property.
Sky 10 was above the high school, located at 910 Buck Pride Way, at around 2:50 p.m. Monday and observed several marked police vehicles in the school’s parking lot.
A Broward County Public Schools security specialist noticed McLaughlin asleep in a running car in the school’s parking lot at which time they contacted a supervisor about the incident, according to investigators.
After conducting an administrative search of the vehicle, authorities said the supervisor found a handgun inside a backpack and immediately contacted the BSO school resource deputy.
According to BSO, a further investigation and search of the vehicle by BSO deputies revealed two loaded handguns, several loaded magazines, a drum magazine and illegal narcotics including MDMA, mushrooms and cannabis.
The investigation has also revealed that one of the 17-year-olds arrested attends Deerfield Beach High School. The other individual, who was asleep in the car, does not, authorities said.
Allison Roussel, who lives nearby, says her street was filled with worried parents trying to pick up their kids.
“Today was scary. I knew something happened,” she said.
A Local 10 News crew was at the high school Monday afternoon where one of the teens accused of the crime was being put into the back of a patrol car.
Deputies later confirmed that the white sedan was towed from the parking lot as part of their investigation.
Monday’s incident has left many parents on edge.
“Part of going to school is learning to lockdown, which is horrible,” said Roussel. “They shouldn’t have to know that.”
A student told Local 10 News Tuesday that he doesn’t think his classmates were particularly frightened when the lockdown was announced during eighth period.
”Everybody was ready to go home,” the student said. “Other than that, it’s typical kids ready to go home. Nobody was worried about the situation.”
Detectives said both teens were arrested and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center for processing.
Jail records show McLaughlin and Ali are both facing charges that include possession of a weapon on school property, possession of MDMA and possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver THC.