Police: 2 teens brought loaded guns into Curtis High School on Staten Island

ST. GEORGE, Staten Island (WABC) -- Two high school students on Staten Island are facing charges after police said they brought loaded guns to school Monday.

The incident happened at Curtis High School on Hamilton Avenue in the St. George section.

Authorities said 16-year-old O'Brian Ballenger brought a 22-caliber weapon and 18-year-old Erick Morris brought a 40-caliber weapon. Both were allegedly carrying the guns in the book bags, and both guns were loaded.

Another student informed administrators, who found the guns and then called police

The New York City Department of Education issued this statement:

"The safety of students and staff always comes first and this troubling incident was swiftly addressed. The NYPD immediately responded and safely recovered the weapons. We are providing the school with ongoing support and extra guidance counselors to ensure appropriate follow-up action is taken."

"I've never really heard of anything like that before," a student said.

"This is a good school, I never heard of any problems and I didn't have any problems so far, everything was OK," a mother said.

Both students will be charged as adults with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds. It's not yet clear if either student will be allowed back in school when the courts are finished with them.