FAIRFIELD — A 14-year-old Vanden High School student was arrested on campus Wednesday by Fairfield police and a handgun and ammunition were confiscated.

“We really do not know why the student brought the gun to school,” said Fairfield police Sgt. Jeff Osgood, adding that the male student has not provided any statement about his possible motives.

School officials received anonymous information about a student with a gun. Upon hearing the report, a staff member remembered seeing that student going into a restroom earlier that morning and leaving quickly, Osgood said.

Police were notified shortly before 10:30 a.m. The 14-year-old was not armed when confronted by police, but had a .38-caliber bullet in his possession, police said later in the day.

The weapon, an unloaded .38-caliber semi-automatic handgun, was found under a trash can in the bathroom, Osgood said.

The student was arrested and provided information that led police to discover a full .38-caliber magazine that had been placed in a bag belonging to another student, Osgood said. The second student was not arrested.

“That student may not have realized the magazine had been deposited in the bag,” Osgood said.

The 14-year-old was booked into the Solano County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of being in possession of a firearm on school grounds, being a juvenile in possession of ammunition and a misdemeanor allegation of concealing or destroying evidence, police said.

The first allegation stems from the belief that the gun and ammunition were together at some point that day, police said.

The school sent out a message to parents informing them of the situation at 12:30 p.m. and letting them know all students were safe.

“Vanden administration is working with the Fairfield Police Department and the Travis Unified School District to continue to investigate this further. At this time, we feel students are safe,” the message from Vincent Ruiz, coordinator of Student Services, stated.

Police said the gun belongs to an adult male relative who lives in the same home as the juvenile, but no further arrests had been made as of Wednesday evening. Police said in a press release that part of the ongoing investigation centers on whether the gun had been legally stored to prevent access by juveniles in the home.

A search of the student’s bedroom discovered a second loaded magazine that fit the gun, as well as a spent shell casing, Osgood said.

“So clearly the gun had been fired at some point,” Osgood said.

Police urge parents and other adults to safely secure their weapons so children do not have access to the guns.

Reach Todd R. Hansen at 427-6932 or [email protected].