JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A loaded gun was found Monday in a backpack that was on a student’s wheelchair, according to a message sent to parents from Mandarin Oaks Elementary School’s principal.
Principal Leigh Butterfield said the gun was found in the school’s self-contained ESE unit. A teacher went to remove a backpack from the student’s wheelchair and noticed it seemed heavier than usual.
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The teacher opened the backpack and found “the gun was holstered and located in one of the outer pockets of the backpack. It was never in the hands of students,” Butterfield said in the message.
The gun belonged to the student’s parent, who left it in the backpack. Butterfield said law enforcement is working with the State Attorney’s Office to determine next steps.
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Here is the full message sent by Butterfield to the school’s parents:
“Good morning, Mandarin Oaks Elementary School families.
“This is Principal Butterfield calling. I am calling to make you aware of the unexpected presence of a firearm in our self-contained ESE unit today and to share with you how the situation was handled.
“Earlier this morning, a teacher was removing a backpack from a student’s wheelchair. The teacher noticed the backpack was unusually heavy. When the teacher opened the backpack, she saw that it contained a loaded handgun. The gun was holstered and located in one of the outer pockets of the backpack. It was never in the hands of students.
“Law enforcement became immediately involved and determined that the gun belonged to the student’s parent, who apparently left it in the backpack. Law enforcement is now in possession of the gun, and they are working with the state attorney’s office to determine next steps.
“Thankfully, no one was hurt, but this situation does provide an opportunity to remind any of you who are gun owners to please keep your firearms safely secured and away from students. I encourage you to review the resources at www.besmartforkids.org, an organization that helps promote gun safety around children.
“Thank you as always for your support of our school and for doing everything possible to keep our students and staff safe. Thanks again and good-bye.”
Action News Jax’s Robert Grant is looking into this incident and will have the latest updates on CBS47 and FOX30 Action News Jax at 5.
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