Questions remain after gun found in child's backpack
SUMMERVILLE, SC (WCSC) - A parent volunteer at Newington Elementary School in Summerville says she saw a gun at the school long before it was found in a second grader's backpack.
On February 6, Summerville Police were called out to Newington Elementary in reference to a 2nd grader finding a gun in her book bag at the end of the school day.
According to police reports, the child called her teacher over immediately when she realized that her mother's gun was in her backpack.
The student's mother works as a parent volunteer at the school.
The teacher took the weapon, notified the principal and the police were called.
A day earlier, another parent volunteer who spoke to Live 5 News on the condition of anonymity said the same mother had bragged to her about having the gun.
"She opened up her purse and showed us a gun that was black and pink. And the other volunteer said you cannot have that on school premise," said the volunteer. "She said she had a concealed weapons permit. I was shocked."
Live 5's anonymous source said she told another volunteer about the gun. That volunteer allegedly notified the principal the next day.
Live 5's source said on February 6, the mother confronted one of the volunteers who had asked her if carrying a gun at school was a good idea. She says she became flustered and left.
Later that day, the pink and black Ruger .380 was found in her child's bag.
According to a police report, the child's teacher told police that the mother had stopped by her daughter's classroom and asked the teacher if she could put a book in her bag. She then placed the bag back in the classroom.
The next day, around 5:45 p.m. parents say they received a message notifying them of the incident.
Some parents who contacted Live 5 News feel the school took too long to inform them about what happened.
"(The) gun was found in (the) backpack on Thursday. How can you say it's not an immediate danger," said one parent.
"What if that child had picked up that weapon and the gun would have gone off and somebody would have gotten shot?"
The Summerville Police say the case is still being actively investigated.
Copyright 2014 WCSC. All rights reserved.
