On Friday, November 22, 2024, at approximately 11:33 a.m., the Schertz Police Department responded to a report of a firearm on the campus of Samuel Clemens High School. A School Resource Officer (SRO) patrolling the parking lot discovered five students in a parked car, prompting school administrators to conduct a search of the vehicle.
The search revealed a handgun, alcohol, and THC inside the car. As a precautionary measure, the school was temporarily placed under a "HOLD IN PLACE" order. The situation was resolved quickly, and normal school activities resumed shortly after.
All five individuals in the vehicle were identified as students of Clemens High School. The vehicle’s owner, 17-year-old Austin Ackers of Schertz, Texas, admitted possession of the alcohol, THC, and the handgun. Ackers was arrested without incident and transported to the Guadalupe County Detention Center in Seguin. He faces multiple charges, including:
- Minor in Possession of Alcohol (Class C Misdemeanor)
- Possession of THC (State Jail Felony)
- Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon in a Prohibited Place, Enhanced Weapon-Free Zone (2nd-Degree Felony)
The other four students were not charged and were released to school administrators.
Schertz Police Chief Jim Lowery commented on the incident, stating, “This is an example of making bad choices and engaging in risky behavior that can have lifelong negative consequences. The Schertz Police Department wants to ensure that the safety of our children is a top priority, and such offenses will be fully investigated and suspect(s) charged to the full extent of the law. This has to stop, and our children must be able to attend school without fear of someone having a weapon or making a threat."
Lowery expressed gratitude for the collaboration between the police department and the SCUC ISD in maintaining school and community safety.
