Northside ISD investigates after unloaded gun is confiscated from student at Harlan High School

What happened at Harlan High School

Northside Independent School District (NISD) police are continuing an investigation after an unloaded gun was found in a student’s possession at Harlan High School on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. District officials said campus staff and NISD officers moved quickly after receiving a report about a possible prohibited item, located the student, and confiscated the firearm without incident.

Campus leaders notified families that the school briefly moved into a “SECURE” status while the situation was addressed. A secure status is used to limit movement on campus while instruction can continue, typically when the concern is inside the building or on school property. Officials said no threats were made against students or staff and there were no reported injuries.

Criminal and school-discipline processes

NISD said the student is expected to be arrested on a charge of “places weapons prohibited,” a criminal allegation that can apply when a weapon is brought onto a school campus. District officials also said the student will face serious disciplinary consequences under school policy, a separate process from the criminal case.

The student’s identity has not been released. In cases involving minors, school districts typically withhold identifying information under privacy rules and student-record protections.

Recent context on firearms found near or on campus

The Jan. 29 case follows another Harlan High School incident in early November 2025, when a student found a firearm near a fence at the edge of the campus, close to private property. In that instance, the student contacted 911 and a parent, and the weapon was secured by law enforcement responding to the scene.

Separately, in March 2025, NISD reported that an unloaded weapon was seized from a student at Brennan High School, with the student arrested and charged in that case as well. District officials said the weapon was taken without incident and they were not aware of threats tied to that discovery.

What happens next

• NISD police are expected to complete an incident report and any related investigative steps, including interviews and evidence documentation.

• The criminal case, if filed, proceeds through prosecutors and the courts.

• School discipline is handled through district procedures, which can include removal from campus and placement decisions based on district policy.

School officials described the response as immediate and said the weapon was confiscated without confrontation.

NISD has emphasized in communications to families that reports about weapons or threats are treated as urgent and that staff and district police will respond quickly when credible concerns are raised.