Princeton Middle/High School - Princeton, North Carolina

Christian Marcus

When David “Cole” Withrow, a senior at Princeton High School in Johnston, N.C., realized he left his shotgun in his truck, he called his mother from the front office of his school to come pick it up. His conversation was overheard and he was expelled and received a felony charge.

Cole is an Eagle Scout who did his senior class project on gun safety and was looking forward to college in the fall. Knowing full well what the repercussions of having a gun anywhere on campus were, he immediately wanted to resolve the issue. After debating between driving back home and being counted as tardy or calling his mom from school to collect the gun, he decided to call his mother. While making the call from the school’s front office, Fox News Radio’s Todd Starnes reports that the 18-year-old’s conversation was overheard.

“He was overheard in a private conversation with his mother explaining what happened,” Kimberly Boykin, a friend of the Withrow family told Starnes. “He could have told a story, but he told the truth.”

“I think it’s an injustice for this young man,” she said. “He’s a good guy. He’s loved by his classmates and his teachers. You don’t become an Eagle Scout by being a bad seed.”

Withrow has been expelled for a year and will not be able to graduate with his class, potentially off-setting his plans for college in the fall. He also received a felony charge — something that at the age of 18 isn’t going to go away. A charge like that has the potential to negatively impact Cole for his entire life.

Johnston County schools spokeswoman Tracey Peedin Jones said the school system has to follow state law regarding weapons on campus.

“Please know that with student and personnel issues, we carefully balance all factors to arrive at a fair and just outcome,” she said in a statement Wednesday. “Certain items are mandated and we have no choice but to follow the law.”

Ron McAndrew

Expelling a student who tried to do the right thing in terms of having his mom pick up his shotgun was just awful. What morons run this school?

Zackery Oliver

terrible I got suspended for scratching my arm and a teacher said that I flipped her off when all I did was scratch my arm I can't stand this school it sucks, all the teachers are strict and will write u up for anything even if u ask a question

Alison Raines

Great school.

Spencer T.

Hard Core

Sherrie Harper

Hailey Keller