White Knoll High School was placed on lockdown on Nov. 29 when students reported to staff that a student had a handgun on campus, per a message shared with families and the media from Principal Ted Daughtry.

Kathryn McPhail, spokesperson for Lexington County School District 1, said the afternoon lockdown lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.

“Administrators placed the school on lockdown to search for the student,” according to Daughtry. “Dur ing that search, students and staff remained locked inside classrooms and offices for their safety. “Just before 3:30 p.m., law enforcement caught the student outside the school, but still on campus. He was detained without incident.”

Daughtry added the male student was taken into custody and faces criminal charges.

According to the principal and a statement from Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon that the department posted to Facebook, a female student in possession of a knife was found with the male student.

“We’re working to determine the criminal charges these students will face as part of our ongoing investigation,” Koon’s statement read.

The two students will be suspended immediately and recommended for expulsion, the message stated.

Both Daughtry and Koon praised the way the situation was handled.

“Though this is an alarming situation, I am proud of the students who came forward to report this incident,” Dauhgtry wrote. “We must work together to keep our school safe. Because of these students, as well as the swift action of our WKHS staff and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, we are all safe tonight.

“I encourage our students to always tell a staff member if they hear about or witness any threat to our safety. We take all reports seriously.”

The sheriff called the response “a case of the system working.”

“Students spoke up and told administrators what they heard,” Koon said. “Because they did the right thing, we worked together to make sure teachers, staff and students remained safe, and the day ended peacefully.”