A loaded handgun was discovered within the backpack of an elementary faculty scholar at Panther Run Elementary School in Palm Seaside County on Thursday, prompting an ongoing investigation by faculty police and native legislation enforcement.
The college, positioned at 10775 Lake Price Street close to Wellington, remained calm and totally operational all through the day, in response to Principal Risa Suarez, who addressed the incident in an in depth assertion to households and workers.
“At the moment, a scholar got here ahead to a trusted grownup and reported that that they had found a harmful merchandise of their backpack,” Suarez wrote. “Faculty Police have been instantly concerned and safely recovered a loaded handgun from the coed’s backpack with out incident or disruption to the varsity day. It was not displayed or utilized in a threatening method.”
Suarez emphasised that the coed concerned is now “topic to penalties as outlined in our Scholar Code of Conduct.” She added that authorities are working to find out how the coed got here into possession of the weapon, and the varsity district will pursue prison expenses as acceptable underneath state legislation, which strictly prohibits firearms on faculty property.
Suarez additionally used the chance to induce households to remain vigilant at dwelling:
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“This incident serves as a vital reminder for all of us. Households, we strongly encourage you to make it a daily follow to test your little one’s backpack every morning. We additionally ask that you simply guarantee any objects in your house that ought to not come to high school, particularly weapons, are all the time safely and securely saved.”
She additional inspired the usage of the FortifyFL app, which permits anybody to anonymously report security considerations.
“The security of our college students and workers stays my highest precedence,” Suarez mentioned. “As a result of this stays an energetic investigation with legislation enforcement, I’m not capable of present further particulars right now. Thanks on your continued partnership in sustaining a secure and supportive studying surroundings at Panther Run Elementary Faculty.”
Authorities haven’t but launched the coed’s age or grade stage, and no accidents or threats have been reported in reference to the incident.
The Palm Seaside County Faculty District continues to research and has reassured the varsity group that further security protocols stay in place.
