Gun found at East belongs to former councilman

May 7, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

A loaded handgun found in the parking lot of East High School on Monday belongs to a former city councilman, reports said.

City police working school security were called to the school at 474 Bennington Ave. about 8:25 a.m., where a woman gave them a case that had a loaded .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun inside that she found next to a car in the parking lot. Police said the car belongs to former 2nd Ward Councilman Rufus Hudson, who is a substitute teacher at the school.

Reports said Hudson told officers the gun was his, and it must have fallen out of his car. The gun was taken by police, reports said, pending the results of an investigation.

William Morvay, head of security for the school district, said it is against Ohio law and school board policy to take a gun on school property, even if the person has a permit or keeps it locked in a vehicle.

The offense is a fifth-degree felony in the Ohio Revised Code and carries a penalty of six months to a year in jail. Hudson had not been charged as of Tuesday afternoon.

A message was left for Hudson seeking comment.

District spokeswoman Yvonne Mathis said there is an investigation. School Human Resources Director Karen Green said Hudson will not be allowed to teach in the district until the investigation is complete.

Hudson has a concealed- weapon permit through the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, according to information provided by the sheriff’s office.

Hudson served two terms on council from 1999-2007.