Charges against student with gun in car dropped

Brett Ball

TOMBALL, Texas – Charges have been dropped against a Tomball High School student who was arrested Thursday after police said they found a 20 gauge shotgun in his pickup truck.

Police said the gun was unloaded, but three shotgun shells were found in the truck, which was parked on school grounds.

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Brett Ball, 17, had been charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon in a prohibited place. Prosecutors said the charges were dropped on Friday because the parking lot is not considered to be school grounds.

Police said they found the gun after investigating an off-campus confrontation between two students on Wednesday. Police said Ball got into an argument with another student and both agreed to settle the dispute after school. Police said during that off-campus confrontation one student claimed to have a gun.

Capt. Rick Grassi said Ball never brandished or threatened anyone with the gun.

On Thursday, Tomball ISD officials sent this written statement to Local 2:

"Today, it was reported to an administrator that a weapon was possibly located in a student vehicle at school.  Law enforcement officers were immediately contacted and found a 20 gauge shotgun in a vehicle.  The unloaded shotgun was immediately confiscated and police officers arrested the student.  The student indicated that the weapon was not going to be used at school.  We will continue to take every measure to ensure the safety of our students.  It is important for parents take a moment to remind their children about the importance of being alert and reporting any suspicious behavior, activities, or rumors to an adult on campus."

School district officials have not said if Ball will face any sort of disciplinary action.