Officials say a 12-year-old San Marcos student was suspended Tuesday for bringing a gun to campus.

San Marcos city officials say said an assistant principal at Hernandez Intermediate School found a 38-caliber handgun in the sixth grade student’s backpack. The principal searched the bag after a teacher noticed a group of students around the bag Tuesday afternoon.

San Marcos police came to the school after the gun was discovered.

They said they found the boy had two bullets in his pocket, but the gun was not loaded.

Hernandez Principal Sandra Reyes said letters will be sent home to parents Wednesday and school resource officers will meet with students and staff to talk about safety procedures.

San Marcos CISD officials plan to hold similar meetings at other campuses in the future.

“We are grateful for our alert staff and the quick response from San Marcos Police Department’s school resource officers,” said Superintendent Dr. Patty Shafer in a media release.

The student could be expelled for a year for bringing a weapon on school property and faces third degree felony charges for bringing the gun to school

He was detained at the Hays County Juvenile Detention Center in San Marcos.