An 18-year-old student at West Allegheny High School is facing charges after police say he brought a loaded AR-15 rifle when he drove to the school Tuesday morning.

North Fayette police were initially called to the high school after a school resource officer was notified that the student, Ja’Shon Spencer, smelled like marijuana.

Spencer’s mother was contacted, and after speaking with her son, told police he’d admitted to having a gun in the vehicle.

A search warrant was executed and police found a loaded AR-15 with a full magazine, along with a baggie of marijuana that prompted the initial incident.

Spencer is on probation, and when his probation officer arrived and checked his car, there was a girl in the passenger’s seat, according to a criminal complaint.

“The juvenile was identified and was supposed to be attending a different high school,” North Fayette Lt. Officer Michael Hamm wrote in the criminal complaint.

Spencer was charged with possession of a weapon on school property, persons prohibited to possess firearms, drug possession and corruption of minors. He faces a May 23 preliminary hearing in District Judge Anthony Saveikis’ Oakdale court.

“I hope that we all will reserve judgement until we get into a court of law,” said Blaine Jones, a Pittsburgh attorney representing Spencer. “The court of public opinion wants to try, convict and sentence a person before they set foot in a court. Ja’Shon comes from a very nice home, and this is something we need to figure out.”

In a communication sent to district parents, West Allegheny officials said investigating officers did not believe Spencer brought the gun with the intent to use it at school.

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