Fairfield County School District releases statement after middle school placed on hold
Fairfield County School District logo (Photo: Fairfield Co. School District Facebook page)
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– Fairfield County School District has released a statement after a middle school was placed on hold today, say district officials
Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, 2026, a knife and an air-soft gun with no real bullets were found on Fairfield Middle School’s grounds.
After being made aware of the items, school administrators followed district safety protocols.
The items were secured, law enforcement was notified, and the seventh-grade student was removed from the school environment, according to the district.
District officials say at no time was there an active threat to students or staff.
Read district released statement below:
“The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We take all reports involving weapons—real or imitation—extremely seriously. The presence of any item that could cause fear, disruption, or harm is unacceptable and will result in swift and appropriate action.Because this incident involves a minor, the district is limited in the details that can be shared. We appreciate the community’s understanding as we protect student privacy while ensuring accountability.
We also remind families of the importance of speaking with students about school safety expectations and the serious consequences associated with bringing prohibited items to school. Our schools must remain safe, secure environments where teaching and learning can occur without fear or disruption.We are grateful to our administrators and staff for their prompt response and to our local law enforcement partners for their support. The district will continue to review this matter thoroughly and take any additional steps necessary to uphold safety across all schools,” says Fairfield County School District Superintendent Alvin D. Pressley.
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office says the student who was found with a knife and an air-soft gun was charged bringing a weapon onto school grounds.
The child was taken to Chester County Family Court for a detention hearing.
