Two former McIntosh High School

students were arrested Tuesday after one of them was found to have carried

a loaded handgun on campus just after school.

The suspect who had the gun

originally got away after ditching it in the trash can of a school restroom,

said Peachtree City Police Chief Jim Murray. Marlon Splain, 21, formerly

of Peachtree City, was arrested hours later and charged with carrying

a weapon on school property, carrying a weapon without a permit, carrying

a concealed weapon and simple assault.

Splain showed the .380-cal

automatic pistol to a McIntosh baseball player and when a coach found

out about the incident Splain and Ahmed Maarouf, 20, who was with him,

were told to go to the office, Murray said. The coach, Joseph Muck, followed

them into the school, said school spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach.

The two took off after Splain

dumped the weapon in a restroom, Murray said. Muck decided to stay with

the weapon and secure it rather than chase the two, which was a wise decision,

the chief added.

The gun was loaded with a full

clip although there was not a bullet in the chamber, police said.

Splain told police that he

did not mean to carry the gun on campus and that he carries it with him

all the time and simply forgot about it, Murray said. Police are still

investigating the case.

"The real question is

why was he there and why did he have a loaded gun on his person,"

Murray said. "And he's a 21-year-old man, so I'd guess it's been

a while since he has been in high school."

Berry-Dreisbach said the pair's

purpose for being on campus was unknown.

Splain and Maarouf entered

the campus from the back gate before approaching the baseball player,

Murray said. At this point it is not known whether the player knew Splain

or Maarouf.

Detectives were checking computer

records to find out the history of the gun as part of the investigation,

Murray said.

Maarouf, who lives in Peachtree

City, was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with loitering.

The two suspects entered the campus at the back gate that is adjacent

to the baseball and football fields, Murray said.

It helped that school resource

officer Alan Reeves was on the scene quickly and was able to get a good

description of the offenders, Murray said.

"That's why we use school

resource officers," Murray said.

Both Splain and Maarouf are

former students at McIntosh, officials confirmed

Officials for the school system

were proud of the response of the faculty, staff and students to the incident,

Berry-Dreisbach said.

A letter from school officials

was sent home with students Wednesday explaining what happened and how

the matter was resolved, Berry-Dreisbach said.

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