Florida authorities were alerted to a loaded firearm found in the backpack of an elementary school student in Broward County.
According to the medium Local 10 Newsthe weapon was found by Park Lakes Elementary School staff on the morning of this Tuesday, April 25.
Miami-Dade County police responded to the site, located at 3925 N. State Road 7 in Lauderdale Lakes, around 9:15 am after security found the dangerous object during a routine search.
Due to the discovery, the educational center was closed, while the authorities investigated the case and determined if there was no danger.
Rhonda Parris, the school’s principal, told parents that the situation did not pose a threat to the students.
“This morning, our security team safely confiscated a loaded gun that was found inside a student’s backpack. I want to assure you that this situation did not imply any threat to our school and that all students are safe,” the official said in a statement.
Similarly, the official pointed out that the closure of the school was an additional security measure that was taken.
“In an abundance of caution, our school is on closure while we continue to work with the Broward Sheriff’s Office regarding this matter,” he added.
The aforementioned local media managed to interview one of the parents, who assured that the situation was sad due to the context, since he considered it unforgivable for a primary school child to gain access to a lethal weapon.
Gerdy St. Louis, a spokesperson for the Broward Sheriff’s Office, points out that the incident may have been accidental, and that the father of the minor, as the owner of the weapon, was going to face legal consequences for this negligence.
“Deputies contacted the student and the boy’s father, who stated that he accidentally placed the weapon in the wrong bag (…) The weapon was confiscated and the father is being charged accordingly,” the officer said.
While the incident was accidental and caused no injuries, what is certain is that a loaded gun at an elementary school could have ended very badly, making it possible for this citizen to face serious punishment due to the danger to which he exposed his son and the other elementary students.