ORANGE, Va. (AP) 鈥� A 6-year-old student brought a revolver to a Virginia elementary school in their bookbag, but the sheriff said there鈥檚 no sign that the child intended to use it.
An instructional assistant at Orange Elementary School found the gun on Monday afternoon while helping a child who arrived late take items out of their bookbag, Orange County Sheriff Jason C. Smith said in a statement posted on social media. The assistant notified administration and the school resource officer and the gun was removed from the school, Smith said.
It was determined that the 6-year-old brought the loaded Heritage Rough Rider single-action, .22-caliber 鈥淐owboy style鈥� revolver to school, but there鈥檚 no indication that the child intended to use the firearm, he said. No arrests have been announced in the case and Smith said the investigation was ongoing.
鈥淭his situation is very unfortunate and heartbreaking to this community,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e will get through this together. Situations like these remind us of how fortunate and thankful we are that nothing serious happened. Show your children lots of love and hold them tight!鈥�
In January 2023, a 6-year-old student that he used to shoot and critically wound his first grade teacher as she taught class in Newport News, Virginia.
The Associated Press
