Mother arrested after student brings gun to Wendell Middle School

Law enforcement found two guns on Tuesday at two schools in central North Carolina: One at Wendell Middle School in Wendell and another at Fairview Elementary School in Rocky Mount.

Here's the information law enforcement and school leaders have provided WRAL News:

A mother was charged with storing a firearm in a manner accessible to a minor after authorities found a Wendell Middle School student had a gun on Tuesday morning.

Principal Catherine Trudell said on-campus staff immediately notified law enforcement and Wake County Public School System Security [WCPSS], who quickly confiscated the gun from the student.

All Wendell Middle School students are safe, Trudell said.

"A thorough investigation by law enforcement and WCPSS Security has revealed that the student did not mean to bring harm to our school, but instead was showing the weapon to classmates," Trudell wrote. "There is no indication that anyone was threatened. "

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Trudell said any student found in possession of a weapon or a copy of a weapon on school grounds or a school bus will be disciplined in accordance with district policies and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

In the letter, Trudell urged parents to monitor their children and to secure guns in their homes. She advised parents to keep guns locked in a gun safe.

"We are grateful to the student who reported this to staff," Trudell wrote. "The best means to keep schools safe is to maintain healthy and open relationships between adults and children at all times."

Trudell said students and parents can report their safety concerns at 919-856-1911.

Members of Wendell Middle School's student support services team are available to speak with any student who needs assistance, according to Trudell.

"Know that we will continue to take every measure to ensure the safety of our students," Trudell wrote.

Rocky Mount police officers found a 6-year-old student had an unloaded 9-millimeter handgun in his backpack on Tuesday morning at Fairview Elementary School.

Administrators called police at 10:47 a.m. Tuesday that the boy had a gun, according to a news release from the Rocky Mount Police Department.

Rocky Mount police said staff on campus secured the backpack and removed the child from the classroom. Police said due to the protocols in place and the quick action by the staff on campus, "a potential major incident was avoided."

“There were no threats made with the weapon and it was never displayed by the child,” Rocky Mount police wrote in the release.

Authorities are investigating how the student came into possession of the gun.

"The situation that occurred [Tuesday] should be a reminder to all gun owners to secure their weapons in a safe manner so that minors cannot possess them," Rocky Mount Police Chief Robert Hassell said. "This was a preventable situation.

"Fortunately, a major event was avoided because staff members of the school and our officers followed proper protocols.”

The Rocky Mount Police Department and Nash County Public encourage students that if they see something to say something to a teacher, school resource officer or trusted adult.

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