Lely High School senior accused of bringing knives to school apologizes

NAPLES, Fla. An 18-year-old Lely High School student was accused of possessing a weapon on school property.

Kraig Purkey, of Naples, was arrested Thursday after students informed a teacher Purkey was carrying a folding knife in his pocket, according to a Collier County Sheriff’s Office report.

Purkey handed over the knife and apologized after the teacher asked him if he had it on him, the report said. A 9-inch filet knife and a 5.25-inch knife were also found in his car, both within reach of the driver seat.

Purkey, who only has two credits left to graduate, says it was all an accident.

“I didn’t really think anything of it, it was really just a poor lack of judgment,” he said.

The high school senior says he went fishing with his dad the day before, left the knives in his jeans and forgot to take it out the next morning.

“There was no intention in my mind at all of any hostile manner towards anyone, I don’t know anyone enough to have any hate let alone pull a knife on anybody … it was just a God’s honest mistake,” he said.

Purkey, who is out on a $5,000 bond, works as a handyman and has plans to own his own business.

But he says he understands why his peers were concerned when they saw the weapon.

“I understand everything that happened to me and I wish I could change that, but it happens,” Purkey said.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 27.