TOWN AND COUNTRY, Mo. — A loaded handgun was found in a 5-year-old girl's bag Friday morning at Principia School in Town and Country.
Town and County Police Chief James Cavins confirmed Friday afternoon that a loaded gun was found by a teacher in a tote bag brought in by the student.
The teacher who found the gun immediately responded, Cavins said.
No one was in immediate danger, and the gun was not fired, Cavins said. The child's parents are cooperating with police.
“It was truly unbelievable. When I got that phone call, that’s exactly what I thought. How in the world does a kindergartener have gun,” Town and Country Police Chief James Cavins said.
Right now, investigators won’t say.
Investigators told 5 On Your Side the child’s mom dropped her daughter off at the school on Clayton Road.
Police also said the child did not know the gun was in her bag.
“We truly believe that this was an inadvertent incident with no intention on anybody’s part at all,” Chief Cavins said.
“It was really alarming and concerning,” Dr. Merry Sorrells, head of Principia Lower School, said.
“Law enforcement across the nation preach about gun lock, gun safes. Keep your guns out of reach of children. Keep them unloaded,” the police chief added.
Meanwhile, the investigation caught the attention of police, school officials and the Division of Family Services.