ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. – Four juveniles are expected to face charges for vandalizing a high school and stealing a school resource officer’s rifle in Rowan County.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of someone breaking and entering at East Rowan High School on January 2nd.
Video surveillance showed four individuals breaking into the school via a classroom window around midnight.
Police say the juveniles entered offices, classrooms, restrooms and locker rooms, vandalizing random areas of the school. This includes spraying graffiti, destroying toilets and sinks, breaking into vending machines and pouring paint cans on the walls and floors.
The juveniles also allegedly entered the SRO’s office where they drilled a lock and pried open a gun safe that contained an issued rifle. A vest was also stolen from the safe.
Authorities identified the four juveniles and recovered the rifle and vest the same day it was reported.
Additional measures are expected to be put in place to prevent issued rifles to be accessible in the schools after hours, according to the sheriff’s office.
All four suspects are expected to be charged pending the investigation.
