From staff reports

DURHAM — Three Duke University freshmen were charged with felonious possession and discharge of a weapon following an early morning incident Sunday on the Duke campus.

The students — John Drew, Kyle Griswould and Brandon Putnam, who are all from Georgia — were members of the Duke football team. They have been dismissed from the squad, and the university also has determined they will not be permitted to return to campus pending the resolution of the charges.

At about 3 a.m. Sunday, Duke University Police heard gunfire coming from a vehicle near the Jarvis residence hall on Duke’s East Campus. The vehicle was later found in the Blackwell residence hall parking lot, also on East Campus, and traced to one of the students who has been charged. The investigation determined the weapon also was fired on Campus Drive.

No one was injured, and the weapon, a semiautomatic handgun, has been recovered by Duke University Police. The three were not shooting at anything, but firing the gun in the air, according to police.

Police are investigating if alcohol was involved, Duke Police Chief John Dailey said. The three are being held in Durham County Jail.

Drew showed some serious promise last season, playing as a true freshman at defensive tackle, a position where most first-year players redshirt. He played in all 12 games last fall with one starting assignment, finishing with 34 tackles, including four tackles for loss, with a one-half sack, two pass breakups, one caused fumble and one fumble recovery.

Griswould, a running back, and Putnam, a defensive end, did not see game action in 2009.

“These types of offenses are going to be associated with dismissal from our team,” head football coach David Cutcliffe said. “While these three young men did not meet the expectations of those in our program, our prayers are with them and their families during this difficult time.”