A Mays High School student was released to his parents Monday morning after he allegedly brought a pellet gun to school.

Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said the student, whose name has not been released, went through the metal detectors at the southwest Atlanta school about 8:30 a.m., setting off an alarm.

She said that when an assistant principal searched the student’s book bag, he found a pellet air pistol.

“The item was metal, and appears and feels as a real weapon,” Jones said. “The student was issued a copy of charges, and released to his parents.”