Authorities: 7-year-old took loaded gun to school

Fayetteville, N.C. — Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office investigators detained a 7-year-old boy Tuesday after he allegedly took a loaded handgun to school and threatened students with it.

The boy is a student at Elizabeth Cashwell Elementary School, on Legion Road in Fayetteville, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Tanna said.

Investigators said they believe he hid the gun in his book bag before leaving home Tuesday morning and managed to keep it hidden until after lunchtime.

"The juvenile, parents, school officials and other witnesses have been questioned and evidence has been processed," Tanna said Wednesday. "Because the suspect in this particular case is a juvenile, there is very little I can legally say about him and possible punishment for his alleged crime."

Authorities were called to the school at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, after the student allegedly threatened others.

“It is pretty serious and parents do have a reason to be concerned about the safety of their children in school. Fortunately, nothing happened,” Tanna said.

No one was injured but some parents were alarmed by the incident.

“It’s past scary,” parent James Green said. "It's real mind sickening for a 7-year-old to bring a loaded gun to school.”

Investigators are still not sure of the boy's intentions and the investigation continues.

“I can promise you that it's not done. We're not satisfied with what we put together so far. But we'll get to the bottom of it and we'll restore safety in that school,” Tanna said.

Investigators are trying to determine where the gun came from and who owns it. That person could possibly face charges. The case has been turned over to the Office of Juvenile Justice in Cumberland County.

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Latest Comments

Weetie, I don’t threaten people to get them to do things that I want them to do. Do you? Do you tell your loved ones that they need to do exactly what you say and bow in homage to you or you’ll torture them with fire?...for years on end?

Like I said…it’s the church who teaches people that followers should obey, because if they don’t, they’ll be tortured. ...tortured for all eternity. Ugh.

This is fear-based coercion. It removes the need for thinking. Not good, IMO. Really, not good.

So, are these really the morals and values that you want to teach others?...to our children?

hereandnow99
January 28, 2010 10:45 a.m.

The mother has been charged. There is a story ... check it out.

wildcat
January 27, 2010 4:51 p.m.

WOW! So this young child thought he was the man. Where did he get the loaded gun? His parents certainly should be charged for the endangerment of their child and other school kids. This young child should be immediately removed from the home and place in a juvi camp where he can received some type of counseling. The parents should also have to receive couseling.

wildcat
January 27, 2010 4:09 p.m.

BTW, I am SO happy that nobody was injured in this situation.

gov watchdog
January 27, 2010 3:54 p.m.

If the assumption that the weapon belongs to a parent (or significant other of the parent) is correct then the responsibility for this is with that adult.

If the child brought it to school thinking of playing (a kid with a toy gun makes 'threats' to the person he is pointing it at), showing it off, etc.. then the child is probably okay - but needs MUCH better supervision.

If the child brought the weapon to school knowing it was real and was making real threats then that is pretty major.

Unfortunately, this story is not yet complete and we don't know which of the above scenarios are correct.

Of course, another scenario is that the boy stole the weapon from someone that did not reasonably expect that there would be a child in the vicinity of the weapon. Not sure, but I do not think it is against the law to have a loaded, unlocked weapon in a household that has no children.

gov watchdog
January 27, 2010 3:53 p.m.