A 5-year-old brought a gun to school in a bookbag, according the Franklin Police Department.
School administrators at S. P. Morton Elementary School notified police that they found the weapon around 11:40 p.m., according to a release.
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Police say that the gun was unloaded, that it was an isolated incident and that there were no threats to other students or faculty.
The child's mother Shayonna Boone, 28, has been charged in a summons with one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Boone told police that the firearm belonged to a friend of hers which was on the top shelf of her closet, unsecured. She did not know how her child acquired the gun but said her children were playing with it and had knocked it off the shelf.
“The most important thing is to keep them locked up. To think that you could put them on a high shelf where a child can’t easily reach them, that’s not enough. They need to be secured," said Franklin Police Department's Deputy Chief, Robert Porti.
Angela Fair, the Principal of S. P. Morton Elementary School, shared the following message with S. P. Morton families:
"Today, a teacher saw what appeared to be a weapon in a child's bookbag. The incident was immediately reported to the main office, and the parent was notified. We are working with our School Resource Officer, the Franklin City Police Department, the Department of Social Services, and the Franklin City Public School Central Office Administration to address this matter.
The teacher intervened quickly, and no one was harmed. We are taking every possible measure to prevent this kind of incident from happening again.
Weapons of any kind are prohibited on school property in accordance with Franklin City Public Schools under Student Policy (JFCD page 114 located on our Division Website). We will always take appropriate action if any student is found possessing a weapon.
I encourage you to share this policy with your child and to talk with them about the importance of responsible and respectful behavior. Through cooperation and support, we can keep our school a safe, secure learning place. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the Central Office at 757.569.8111 ext. 5901."
Anyone with more information about the incident should contact Franklin police at 757-562-8575, the Crime Solvers at 757-516-7100 or at p3tips.com. Tips can remain anonymous and might lead to a cash reward.
