On October 22, 2024, at 10:56 AM, maintenance personnel conducting air conditioning work at Berwick High School found an old, rusted firearm and immediately reported it to the school resource officer. Berwick Police in conjunction with St. Mary Parish school officials promptly responded and recovered the firearm.
Initial observations by investigators indicated that the firearm had been in place for a considerable amount of time and is quite old evidenced by the significant amount of rust, the old holster in which it was secured, and the condition of its surroundings. Importantly, the location of the discovery was not accessible to students or faculty. At no time was anyone in danger, and the school’s operations continued without disruption.
The firearm was collected by investigators and further methods will be conducted to determine possible origin and/or owner.