Juvenile petitions will be filed against a 13-year-old Chaloner Middle School student after further investigation by Roanoke Rapids police determined the handgun found in bushes near the school had been reported stolen in a vehicle break-in.

Chief Bobby Martin said the vehicle break-in occurred this morning and is not related to a string of them in which a person was arrested.

Martin said there was no evidence found during the investigation to indicate the male student who reportedly took the weapon from the vehicle was going to cause any harm. “It was just a bad decision on his part. He knows he would have gotten into more serious trouble by doing that (taking the gun to school) than what he’s already in.”

The police chief said in the investigation, Officer Joe DeSare, “Did a great job with his follow-up investigation with the school, the juvenile and having a good conversation with the parents (to see whether there) will be a turnaround or change with this juvenile.”

Martin said in a statement when the weapon was recovered from bushes where it had been hidden on Lewis Street, it was found to have ammo, but was not ready to fire.

The student will be petitioned to Juvenile Services and will face charges of breaking and entering a motor vehicle and larceny and possession of a stolen firearm.