THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEWPORT NEWS -- Newport News police say two Menchville High School students face charges after one brought a loaded handgun to school and the other tried to hide the weapon from school personnel.

Police spokeswoman Holly Tepper said today that the 16-year-old boys were charged with underage possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm on school property. They are being held in juvenile detention.

Police said one student brought the gun to school in his backpack because another teenager had been threatening him. When the student became aware that school personnel knew about the gun, he passed the backpack off to a classmate who stored it in a locker.

The backpack with the revolver was recovered from the locker. Police were investigating how the student acquired the gun.