Two students at Wheeler High School face criminal charges after administrators and the Cobb County School District Police Department found a gun on campus Thursday, Sept. 3.

No one was hurt.

Principal Dr. Sara Fetterman told the Wheeler community in a message Friday, Sept. 4, that both students are in custody. She said "everyone is safe" but could not share additional details because the investigation is ongoing. She also cited student privacy.

East Cobb News first reported the arrests Friday morning.

Fetterman stressed that the school has resources to detect weapons, including gunpowder-detecting dogs and on-campus officers. She warned students in her message: "I cannot say this forcefully enough: We have many tools and officers at Wheeler, including gunpowder-detecting dogs. If a student brings a weapon to our campus, they will be caught … They will also face the harshest possible penalties that the law allows."

She followed with a blunt appeal to students: "A mistake like this could ruin the rest of your life. Don't do it."

Fetterman said the school's leadership team will keep working to make Wheeler a safe place for everyone.

A Cobb County School District spokesperson confirmed both students were taken into custody and said keeping schools safe remains the district's top priority. The spokesperson urged students and parents to report safety concerns to the district's tip line, according to WSB-TV.

No details about the type of weapon, how it was discovered, or the ages and grades of the students involved have been released.

Fetterman also noted in her message that the Wheeler community is mourning the death of a student. She did not provide details about the circumstances.

The district operates an anonymous tip service called Vector Alert. Tips can be submitted online at 1760.alert1.us, by calling or texting 470-689-0298, or by emailing [email protected].