JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A loaded gun was found Wednesday afternoon in a student’s backpack at Arlington Elementary School, according to Duval County School Police Chief Greg Burton.
In a message sent to students’ families and shared with News4JAX by Duval County Public Schools, Burton wrote that school staff was able to safely confiscate the firearm.
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“Staff took the action of searching this backpack immediately after another student informed them of the situation,” Burton said.
Burton says that school police are investigating and that the district will also take appropriate disciplinary action.
“While privacy laws prevent me from addressing this specific case, I can tell you that under the Gun-Free School Act any student, regardless of age, who is determined to have brought a firearm to school will be expelled from the student’s regular school for at least one year,” Burton said. “While we are disappointed to bring you this news, I am thankful that no one was hurt in this situation. I want to remind you that guns are never allowed on a school campus. If you do have firearms in your home, please take all recommended precautions to ensure those weapons do not fall into the hands of children.”