- April 29, 2026
A former Mainland High School student was arrested on Wednesday, April 29, after school district personnel discovered he was armed with a loaded gun.
The teen came to Mainland at around 11:10 a.m. following an attempt to re-register at the school two weeks prior, according to a statement sent to families of students at Mainland. Because of the prior incident, during which the student fled when approached by a school resource officer, school staff were on alert in case he returned. Volusia County Schools stated he had unenrolled from Mainland after changing to a different group home.
The teen was intercepted by an assistant principal, an armed guardian and the SRO, who escorted him to an office inside the school, according to a report by Daytona Beach Police.
DBPD reported that the teen had been listed as a runaway and taken into police custody. The district states he is 17 years old; DBPD reported he is 16.
"The individual was never left unattended and was accompanied by the Assistant Principal, armed guardian, and SRO at all times," the school statement reads. "At no point did the individual gain unsupervised access to the building, students, or classrooms."
Upon a search of the teen's person, officers found a loaded gun and two magazines of ammunition.
"We recognize that today's events are understandably concerning," the school statement reads. "We also want you to know that this outcome is a direct result of our staff doing exactly what they are trained to do, recognizing a potential threat, acting on prior knowledge, and intervening swiftly to keep students safe. Our layers of security, combined with the awareness and preparation of our team, worked as intended."
