Loaded gun found in elementary school student’s book bag, Georgia officials say
A school community is on edge after an elementary-school-age student was caught with a loaded gun in his book bag, multiple news outlets report.
In a letter to parents, the head of school at Charles R. Drew Charter School in Atlanta confirmed a student brought a gun to campus Tuesday, according to WAGA. The weapon was taken without incident after another student reported it to a staff member.
No one was injured, school officials said.
“Please know that we take this incident very seriously as the safety and security of our students and staff are paramount,” Head of School Peter McKnight wrote, according to WXIA. “We will continue to do all we can to protect everyone and maintain a safe learning environment.”
A school resource officer alerted the Atlanta Public Schools Police Department after finding the gun, and officers were sent to the campus, WSB-TV reported. Investigators who spoke with the student said they don’t believe the child intended to harm anyone with the weapon.
It’s unclear what disciplinary action the student will face, if any.
“Additionally, I am reminding our Drew community that it is against APS and Drew Charter School policy to have weapons on campus,” McKnight wrote, WXIA reported. “We urge our students to report any instances of weapons at school to a parent, teacher, principal, counselor, or school resource officer.”
The incident is just the latest in a string of instances involving young kids and guns. Last week, a North Carolina kindergartner had a loaded gun at school after a relative grabbed the wrong backpack from home, McClatchy News reported.
A teacher discovered the weapon while unpacking snacks from the student’s bag.
In a more serious incident, a 6-year-old Mississippi boy was shot in the leg after a gun accidentally fired from inside a classmate’s backpack, according to McClatchy News. The child had to be airlifted to a hospital in Jackson.
This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Loaded gun found in elementary school student’s book bag, Georgia officials say."