Brownsville, TX — Brownsville ISD Police recovered a loaded handgun at Aiken Elementary School on Wednesday after a second-grade student brought the firearm to campus.
The unidentified 8-year-old had the handgun tucked in his waistband, according to the district.
Another student told a coach a classmate may have had what they thought was a toy gun. The coach located the weapon.
The campus went into lockdown while officers responded, located the firearm, and secured it.
Brownsville ISD said there was no ongoing threat and that all students and staff remained safe.
Police Chief Anna Gaucin said there was no indication the child intended to use the gun against anyone.
Gaucin said the child was curious, found the firearm, and there was never any indication of a threat.
The gun belonged to the child’s parent.
That parent was arrested and charged with making a firearm accessible to a child and abandoning or endangering a child.
The district said the parent will not be identified.
Superintendent Timothy Cuff said the district is asking Aiken Elementary families to check backpacks every morning and is considering adding metal detectors to elementary campuses districtwide.
The district asked parents and guardians to speak with their children about school safety and to keep firearms properly secured and inaccessible to children.
■ Safety Reminder
Texas law makes it an offense to make a firearm accessible to a child. Officials continue to urge families to store firearms locked and out of reach.