A Sandhills Middle School cafeteria employee is accused of bringing a loaded weapon on school grounds.

Andrea Brooks, 43, is charged with carrying a weapon on school property, according to the arrest warrant.

“The school resource officer was notified after a district employee told school administrators they discovered a firearm in one of the employee bathrooms,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon stated. “Brooks admitted to leaving the firearm in the bathroom after realizing he still had it on him.”

The school resource officer retrieved the firearm from the bathroom, which was locked off to students.

Brooks was taken into custody at the school Monday afternoon and placed on administrative leave. He is being held in the Lexington County Detention Center.