A Sims Academy student discovered a purse containing a gun and bullets on a school bus Tuesday.
According to a statement released by the Barrow County Sheriff's Office, the student who located the purse immediately reported to the front office at Sims Academy in Winder. The student attempted to locate identification of the owner of the handbag when the student noticed the items inside.
"[The school] immediately notified the Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer and upon further investigation, it was determined that the purse and its contents belonged to Mary Jo Hall, 59, of Statham," Major Ryan Sears with the Barrow County Sheriff's Office said in the release.
Hall is an employee of the Barrow County School System as a school bus driver. She was taken into custody but charges are pending at this time. Hall will be charged with possession of a firearm on school grounds given the weapon was left on school property.
"At no time were the students or faculty in any danger," the press release stated. "This is an isolated incident that was handled immediately upon the front office being notified of the weapon."
