Midlands student brought gun to SC elementary school

A Sumter County elementary school called the sheriff’s office about a student with a gun Monday.

A 9-year-old student brought a gun to Shaw Heights Elementary School, which was discovered to be an unloaded BB gun, according to Sumter County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Ken Bell.

No students or school employees were threatened or in danger, according to Bell and a school official.

Around 2 p.m., deputies responded to call from administrators at the school, located on 1495 Frierson Road.

School officials had the 9-year-old student in the office after confiscating the BB gun, said Bell.

The mother of the 9-year-old said another child gave the BB gun to her child on Sunday and she had thrown it in the trash, according to Bell. The child apparently took it from the trash and brought it to school.

Bell said the 9-year-old had the gun down his pants, where a teacher discovered it and alerted administrators.

The child has been released to the custody of his parents, but Bell said law enforcement officers are petitioning Family Court for the child bringing the BB gun to school. Since the child can’t be charged as an adult, law enforcement will explain the incident to Family Court to let them determine an appropriate punishment.

The student will also face discipline from the Sumter County School District. Bell said he believed the school has a zero-tolerance policy on bringing guns to schools, even BB guns.

Sumter County School District public information and community services coordinator Mary Sheridan wouldn’t comment on any specific punishment.

“The student will receive disciplinary action in accordance with the Sumter County School District code of conduct,” Sheridan said.

Bell said the principal sent a letter to parents of the other students to inform them about the situation.

This story was originally published October 23, 2017 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Midlands student brought gun to SC elementary school."