8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

A Brentwood third-grade teacher Wednesday discovered more than notebooks and pencils in the desk of one of her pupils:

She found a loaded semiautomatic handgun.

The student at North Elementary School was charged with weapons possession as a juvenile, as Suffolk detectives tried to determine how the youngster got the gun.

The weapon was taken to a county crime lab for tests to see if it was operable, according to Det. Lt. Matt Sullivan.

The unidentified student arrived late to class shortly after 10 a.m. and put the contents of his backpack, including the handgun, into his desk, Suffolk police said. As another student stood up to go the bathroom, "the teacher saw the first boy gesturing to him and overheard some of their conversation," Sullivan said. The boy was "trying to get his attention to show him the gun" when the teacher approached. The teacher spotted the gun and confiscated it.

School officials notified police and the boy's mother, who met the child at the school. He was charged at the Third Precinct as a juvenile with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said. The student was later taken with his mother to a Suffolk Family Court, where he was released to his mother's care.

The .25-caliber Remington's considerable age will make it a challenge to trace its ownership through the serial number, Sullivan said.

"We have not been able to pinpoint the ownership or any kind of transaction for years and years . . . but we're not stopping there. We continue to interview people," he said. Police and school officials said it was unclear what the boy's intention was, but no threat was made. "We're still looking into exactly why he brought the gun," Sullivan said.

Brentwood School District spokesman Rick Belyea said school district officials believe the boy brought the gun from home, but Suffolk police said they had not yet been able to determine that.

"We have absolutely no reason to think there was any threat made," he said. No decision had been made about potential disciplinary action pending the conclusion of the police investigation.

"We are working hand in hand with the Suffolk County Police Department regarding the seriousness of this situation," said district superintendent Donna Jones in a statement. "The safety of our students is our number one priority. Our parents need to know that we reacted swiftly, making sure our students were never at risk." The district used a phone alert system to notify parents of the incident and sent students home with a letter.

The handgun held five bullets in the magazine. If the gun is proved operable, police said the charge could be upgraded to a felony. Family Court judges have a high degree of latitude when imposing sentences on juveniles.

District trustee Roland Jimenez, who lives in the area of Brentwood where the school is located, said he was concerned about the gun's availability to the child.

Source: Newsday


What is this world coming to?

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Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

What????? What is a 8 year old doing with a loaded gun in school??? This child needs to be talken to about guns and how dangerous they can be and that they can "Kill" No child should have a gun in his backpack!! That is irresponsible on the parents part, Maybe they were not responsible on him taking the gun but being in a place where he would just take it and not knowing how dangerous it is. I hope this kid learns his lesson and i hope being charged as a juvenile will scare him.. I pray this little boy does not do this again.

Message edited 1/21/2010 12:10:52 PM.

Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

My niece is in 1st grade in that school.

Its absolutely sickening to my stomach, knowing she was in school yesterday.

Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

Posted by MrsPJB2007

My niece is in 1st grade in that school.

Its absolutely sickening to my stomach, knowing she was in school yesterday.

Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

I heard this on the radio this morning, and my jaw dropped. Seriously, a third grader?

Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

That's my old elementary school.

Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

Holy Sh*t.

Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

Sadly this doesn't shock me at all. Children are capable of just about anything adults are with repeated exposure. They are sponges at that age. When they see adults do things, they mimic. I have seen things that would leave you all

Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

Posted by MrsPJB2007

My niece is in 1st grade in that school.

Its absolutely sickening to my stomach, knowing she was in school yesterday.

Re: 8-year-old arrested, brought loaded gun to Brentwood school

what are the consequenes for the parents?