Sterling middle school student charged after police say loaded gun found in locker

A Challand Middle School student is charged with two felonies after school staff found a loaded gun in the student’s locker, Sterling police said Friday.Police learned of a possible gun at the school at 11:47 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, during an investigation, according to a statement from Police Chief Pat Bartel. The statement does not describe that investigation.The school resource officer and Challand administrators were alerted, and the student and the student’s locker were searched, police said. School staff found the loaded gun in the locker. The school resource officer took possession of it, and police took the student into custody.At a detention hearing Wednesday in Whiteside County juvenile court, the student was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm, both Class 4 felonies, police said. The student will remain in a juvenile detention facility.More charges are possible as the investigation continues and evidence testing is completed, a