By Elizabeth Chuck
A Memphis, Tenn., kindergarten student is in police custody after he fired a handgun in his elementary school cafeteria Thursday morning.
The incident didn’t result in any injuries, and school is back in normal operation, school officials said.
The Westside Elementary School student, 5, brought the gun to school in his backpack Thursday morning, according to school officials at Westside and at the Shelby County schools superintendent’s office.
While waiting for the opening bell in the cafeteria, the gun accidentally discharged once inside the boy’s backpack at about 7:42 a.m. CT during breakfast and before school started at 8 a.m., school officials said.
“Staff immediately took possession of that backpack,” said Christian Ross, external communication analyst for Shelby County schools. “Our Shelby County school security team were contacted as well as local law enforcement. They’re handling the investigation. From what we’ve heard, there’s no evidence of harmful intent.”
It’s unclear where the boy, who was not identified, got the gun. He will be disciplined “in accordance with the state’s zero tolerance policy” for weapons, according to a statement from school officials.
The school, located in north Memphis, serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade. WMCTV.com in Memphis reported some shaken-up parents were picking up their children from school.
No other details were released. Memphis police confirmed Thursday afternoon that the student was still detained and that the gun was a handgun, but didn’t give any other details about the weapon.