EAST ST. LOUIS — A loaded gun was found Wednesday in a student's book bag at East St. Louis Senior High School, leading to two arrests.

"A 19-year-old brought the gun to the school and put it inside of the student's book bag for the 16-year-old to carry it for him," East St. Louis Police Chief Michael Floore said. He said both teens were in custody, with the 16-year-old at the juvenile detention center.

Floore said the school still had metal detectors. He did not know how the gun was smuggled past the detectors.

Students told a teacher. Floore said police were called at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Beth Shepperd, assistant superintendent of human resources for East St. Louis District 189, also did not know how the gun made it past the metal detectors.

"That is still being investigated," she said.

She praised the students who reported the gun and the staff's quick response.

"The police were contacted. They came and removed the student from the classroom. We're very proud of the fact that the kids would report something and work with us in preventing any tragedies," Shepperd said.

She said parents were notified as well as all of the administrators and teachers at the school.

The students were suspended and face additional discipline.

"Expulsion is recommended for bringing a weapon to school," she said.

Neither student had been charged Thursday, Floore said. Police did not have a motive for the student bringing the weapon to school, but the investigation was continuing.

On Thursday, the school district had a pre-scheduled random school search in cooperation with the East St. Louis Police Department. According to school officials, this search had already been scheduled and was not related to the gun found in the student's backpack Wednesday.