Deputies arrest student after bringing gun to Poinciana High School

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  • Recovered firearm
    Recovered firearm
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Osceola County deputies arrested a Poinciana High School student on Tuesday after bringing a gun to class.

The student was identified as Michael Jesus German-Espinal, 15. Deputies recovered the firearm after making contact with him.

According to an Osceola County Sheriff’s Office report, at about 8:15 a.m., German-Espinal allegedly displayed the firearm to another student inside the boys’ locker room. The incident was quickly reported to the school resource officer.

It was determined that German-Espinal was not in his assigned classroom, and the school was placed on lockdown for the safety of all students and staff. Sheriff’s Office patrol, criminal investigations and special operations units responded, and assisted with searching the school the immediate area.

At approximately 10:15 a.m., deputies located German-Espinal in a common area of the Waterview Subdivision, located across from the high school. The firearm was loaded and was confirmed to be stolen out of Polk County.

German-Espinal was charged with possession of firearm on school property, possession of firearm by minor, tampering with evidence and interfering with education process.

“Sheriff Russ Gibson and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Osceola County School District and the Poinciana High School Staff for their commitment to the safety of our children,” said Maj. Jacob Ruiz in a press release. “We would like to thank the amazing students who reported this incident immediately and to the parents and community affected. Working together, we will make our schools and community safer.”

 Anyone with information related to this case is asked to contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at 407-348-2222 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477, where information leading to a felony arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.