A 15-year-old Waipahu High School boy was charged yesterday with bringing a 9 mm pistol to school Tuesday.

The boy, charged as a juvenile with illegal possession of a firearm, was being held last night at the Alder Street detention facility.

Police said the boy found the pistol, which belongs to his father, in a garment bag at his home. He brought it to school and was bragging about it.

But police said a 16-year-old boy confronted the younger boy off-campus and took the gun away. The older boy was questioned by police and he eventually turned the gun over to them.

The older boy has not been charged with any crime, police said.

Police initially opened a theft case, but the younger boy's father refused to press charges. Police were able to charge the boy with the gun possession.

The Department of Education reports to the Legislature on the number of students who are caught with guns on campus. Figures for the 2005-06 school year were not available, but in the 2004-05 school year, the department reported that one student was caught with a handgun.

The Department of Education also reported that 18 students were caught with air guns and nine were in possession of "other firearms."

The report did not define "other firearms."

Also, one student was caught with a starter gun, the report said.