STUDENTS heading to class might bring their pencils or books on the school bus — but one kid brought a loaded gun.
A 9-year-old boy was arrested on Monday after he allegedly stole his uncle’s revolver and took it on the bus, police said.
The revolver that the Ocala Police Department recovered on the school bus on Monday morning[/caption]
The boy brought the gun on a school bus and showed other students (stock image)[/caption]
The Floridian elementary school student now faces multiple charges, including possession of a firearm on school property and grand theft of a firearm.
Thankfully, no one was hurt during the event.
The boy took the loaded .38 caliber revolver from his uncle’s “secured bedroom” without permission, the Ocala Police Department said.
According to the arrest report, the uncle told cops his nephew knew he had a gun in the apartment where they live, ABC News reported.
However, the uncle said he didn’t know the boy was “aware of the firearm’s location.”
He told cops he keeps the gun in the top drawer of his nightstand.
Police said the gun was stored lawfully in the uncle’s room.
It wasn’t until after the 9-year-old was already on the bus that the uncle noticed the gun was missing.
The student later admitted to police that he allegedly took the gun from the nightstand while his uncle was in the shower on Sunday, the arrest report said.
He then allegedly hid it in his pocket and brought it on the school bus on Monday.
The bus was transporting children to College Park Elementary School in Ocala, about 75 miles northwest of Orlando, Florida.
The boy showed the gun to several students on the bus, but he never pointed it at anyone, he told officers.
Students then alerted the bus driver, who called 911 to report a child who had a gun while the bus was at an intersection.
The gun was found on the floor near the boy’s seat on the bus.
Ocala Police Department’s statement
Police in Ocala, Florida issued the following statement after an elementary school student allegedly brought a loaded gun on the school bus on Monday:
This morning, Ocala Police responded to a report of a student with a gun on a school bus. Officers safely detained a 9-year-old juvenile and recovered a loaded revolver from the bus. No injuries were reported.
The firearm was taken from a relative’s secured room without permission. The juvenile admitted to bringing it on the bus and showing it to others. He was arrested and transported to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Some charges include:
- Possession of a Firearm on School Property
- Armed Burglary
- Grand Theft of a Firearm
- Carrying a Concealed Firearm
- Disruption of School Function
We praise the students for alerting the bus driver and helping to ensure everyone’s safety. We also commend the swift response from law enforcement.
Our children’s safety is our top priority. This incident shows why staying vigilant and reporting concerns quickly is critical. We will remain committed to supporting our schools and community while we pursue justice.
Source: OPD
“The juvenile was safely detained after initially resisting officers,” OPD said in a statement.
The student told cops he never took the gun out of the holster.
“He also admitted to showing the firearm to other students but stated he did not intend to harm anyone,” the affidavit said.
The boy said he was “only going to show the revolver to someone at school if they bullied him,” police recounted.
His parents reportedly told officers the boy has behavior problems and has become violent before, ABC affiliate WCJB reported.
A school district spokesperson said the student is now facing “serious discipline and legal consequences, according to the outlet.
He was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice and now faces six charges, police said.
Cops praised students for acting quickly by alerting their bus driver.
“This incident shows why staying vigilant and reporting concerns quickly is critical,” OPD said.
“We will remain committed to supporting our schools and community while we pursue justice.”
