A north Alabama middle school student was taken into police custody after a handgun was found in a bag of Halloween candy they brought to the school Wednesday morning, officials said.

A Muscle Shoals Middle School administrator was notified that a gun was discovered in the bag of candy, said Muscle Shoals City Schools Superintendent Chad Holden.

The administrator and a school resource officer then went to the study’s classroom where they “found an unloaded gun in the bag of candy,” Holden said.

The administrator and the SRO detained the student and took possession of the gun while Muscle Shoals police officers were called to the school.

Police took the student into custody; charges are pending and the case will be turned over to authorities, Holden said.

‘The incident has been thoroughly investigated and the possibility of a threat or emergency was swiftly addressed by school administration and the School Resource Officer,” the superintendent said. “However, a minor in possession of a handgun and a handgun brought to campus both violate school policy and have legal consequences.”

Holden commended the police department’s support and the “swift action taken” by the school administration and the SRO.

“We also appreciate the student who quickly notified school staff that a weapon was discovered on campus,” he said. “As we always say, safety is our top priority!”