Student arrested for loaded handgun on Lee County school bus

Deputies arrested a high school student for having a loaded handgun while he was on a Lee County school bus on Thursday.

The suspect, Jose Amieva, 17, faces charges of Possession of a Weapon on School Property, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm Under the Age of 18 and Carrying a Concealed Weapon.

The bus transporting Amieva from the Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts was pulled over on Interstate 75 near Bonita Beach Rd. The transportation department for the school was given a tip. Then, it immediately called 911.

Upon their arrival, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies came in contact with two students and a bus driver. The suspect had a loaded Glock 23, 40-caliber handgun on his person, the LCSO press release states. Deputies later confirmed the weapon was stolen out of Lee County. The handgun was removed and Amieva was placed into handcuffs.

In a message to parents on Thursday evening, Angela Roles, the principal of Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts, informed parents of the arrest.

“In addition to the criminal penalties this student faces,” Roles said, “please be assured that the School District and I will take the most aggressive disciplinary action that we can.”

“Bringing a weapon of any kind on to school property will not be tolerated and you will be arrested,” said LCSO Sheriff Carmine Marceno. “I can assure you that our children, schools and school buses will be safe in Lee County.”