Parent Arrested After Third-Grader Brings Handgun to School, Causes Panic

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. — Two parents were arrested after their third-grade child brought an unsecured handgun to Lee Hill Elementary School, where it discharged in a classroom on Monday morning. The incident, which occurred around 10:50 a.m., left no students or staff injured, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.

The child’s parents, 36-year-old Ciara Armstead and 34-year-old Terrence Carroll Jr., were arrested later that day and charged with recklessly leaving a loaded, unsecured firearm, endangering the life of a child under 14. The charge is classified as a misdemeanor. They also face a felony charge for willfully or negligently causing the life of a child to be endangered.

The sheriff’s office stated that after the gun discharged, a teacher quickly evacuated all 26 students from the classroom and alerted the School Resource Officer present on-site.

According to the sheriff’s office, the child discovered the handgun at home and placed it in their backpack before heading to school. During class, as the child reached into the backpack to retrieve an item, the gun inadvertently discharged.

No further details were provided about the gun’s ownership or why the child brought it to school. Following consultations with prosecutors, the child is not facing any charges.

“The parents have cooperated fully with the investigation,” a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said. Carroll and Armstead were released on a $5,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in court on April 11.

This incident is part of a growing concern regarding firearms in school settings. The National Association of School Resource Officers reported 12 instances of elementary school students having guns at school this academic year, two of which involved accidental discharges. This troubling trend follows other incidents, including a case in Newport News, Virginia, where a mother faced charges after her 6-year-old son brought a gun to school and shot a teacher.

As investigations continue, school officials emphasize the importance of secure gun storage and parental responsibility, reminding families to ensure that firearms are safely stored and inaccessible to children.