SWFL teenager accused of bringing gun to school back in court

Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published: Updated:
Tra’Quincia Fuller in Court. Credit: WINK News

One of two teenagers accused of bringing a loaded gun to a high school is back in court Monday morning.

17-year-olds Tra’Quincia Fuller and Devoun Harris Jr. were charged with possession of a weapon on school property after deputies says they brought the gun to East Lee County High School at 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave. Fuller will be in court because her family applied for public defense representation. Both she and Harris are currently being held for 21-day detention.

Lee County Sheriff’s deputies found a gun in Fuller’s backpack, but learned during the investigation that Harris put the gun in there. Fuller’s mom was by her daughter’s side during her first appearance Saturday morning.

The defense argued that Fuller never removed the gun from the spot where it was placed by someone else. Fuller’s mother spoke with WINK News after the hearing.

“She never touched a gun,” said Lashundera Graves. “She never placed it in her book bag herself. He did it. These are just kids. They’re kids… they just need to learn the right things to do.”

The prosecution did cite a probable cause affidavit that said Fuller agreed to hold the gun. At her Monday morning appearance, it was ruled that she would be held for the whole 21-day secure detention, though there had been some consideration of letting her go after 13 days. Fuller’s next arraignment is on Oct. 25 at 9 a.m., by which point the state will determine which charges, if any, it will file against her. The court and the state advised the Fuller family to have an attorney present for that arraignment.

Fuller is the eighth student arrested for committing a crime at or against their school this year.

According to experts like Dr. Alise Bartley, director of the counseling center at Florida Gulf Coast University, kids have never been under more psychological pressure than they are right now.

“Our children are forgetting how to interact with people face-to-face,” Bartley said. “And it’s our responsibility as educators and parents and other… just, concerned community members to [make sure] our children are learning how to interact with others face-to-face, because I can say something bad to you on social media. But if I say it face-to-face, it’s going to have a different meaning.”

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.