PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said an 8-year-old boy brought a loaded weapon to Hudson Elementary School on Thursday.
- No one injured
- Gun confiscated by school safety guard
- No word yet on whether charges will be filed against parents
- More Pasco County stories
"I can't think of any recent instances where we've had an actual loaded firearm brought by a child so young," said Pasco Sheriff's Office Captain Chris Beaman.
He said the child was in a bathroom showing the 9 mm handgun to a group of students. He was carrying it in his backpack.
A school safety guard noticed the group and told them to disperse.
One of the students who had seen the gun told the safety guard about it, who was then able to immediately track the child down in class and confiscate the gun.
"We're trying to find out all the why's," Beaman explained. "Everybody wants to know why, we want to know, too. The why's and the how's, things of that nature."
The school was not placed on lockdown because the gun was found so quickly.
People who live in Hudson called the incident "unnerving."
"I think it's sad," said Theresa Edelman, who has 9 grandchildren. "I hope something is done about this, because God forbid if it was one of my grandchildren, that would be one of the worst days of our life if something was actually to go wrong."
The Pasco County School District sent out a robo call to tell parents about what happened.
The call also urged people to remember the importance of gun safety and keeping guns locked and away from children.
The district declined to give specific details about what will happen to the student.
The Sheriff, meanwhile, also said it's too early to say whether charges will be filed against the child or his parents or guardians.