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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