A student at Port Charlotte High School was arrested Friday after a BB gun resembling a real firearm was found in his backpack, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 11:45 a.m. on February 14, 2025, school staff alerted School Resource Deputies to reports of a student in possession of a firearm. The student, identified as 18-year-old Jeremiah Marcial Bernardez, was located in his scheduled classroom by school administrators, deputies, and a Charlotte County Public Schools Guardian.
Bernardez was removed from the classroom, and an administrative search of his backpack revealed the BB gun. Authorities stated that there were no reports of threats made or any indication that Bernardez had displayed the weapon to students or staff.
Superintendent Mark Vianello emphasized the importance of student vigilance in reporting potential threats, stating, “The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority. We are grateful for the student who took the initiative to report this incident, demonstrating the importance of speaking up and looking out for one another.”
Bernardez claimed he had recently found the BB gun and forgotten it was in his backpack. Sheriff Bill Prummell stressed that bringing any weapon onto school grounds would result in consequences.
“I don’t care what it is… If you bring a weapon onto any of the school campuses in Charlotte County, you will face the consequences. There is absolutely no excuse good enough to justify it, and we will do whatever we have to do to protect all students, faculty, and staff,” Prummell said.
Bernardez was arrested and charged with Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds. He was transported to the Charlotte County Jail without incident.
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