A 16-year-old student of Walt Whitman High School was removed from class and faces weapon charges after bringing a loaded handgun onto school property, according to Montgomery County Police.

Authorities said in a news release that officers responded shortly after noon Wednesday to a report of an altercation at Westfield Montgomery Mall involving teenagers from two high schools. During the encounter, one of the teens displayed a handgun, police said.

Officers identified the teen with the gun as a Walt Whitman High student and contacted the Bethesda school’s principal and security staff. The student was removed from class and taken to a secure room, and a search revealed a loaded handgun with an obliterated serial number in his backpack, along with a magazine.

The student was taken into custody by police and charged as an adult with multiple offenses, including possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, possession of a firearm by a minor and illegal possession of ammunition.

The teen was being held Wednesday at the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, police said.