LINCOLNTON, N.C. — A 13-year-old student brought a gun to East Lincoln Middle School Thursday morning, Lincoln County deputies say.
Officials says the 8th grade student accidentally brought the firearm from home and discovered it when he opened a medical bag that he is required to carryΒ because it contains medications needed for life-threatening health issues.
He informed his teacher that the firearm was inside the bag. The student told school officials that he did not know how the weapon got into the bag.
The school resource officer cleared the weapon and placed it in a secure location. According to a news release, at no time was the weapon displayed during the class and no students were ever in danger.
The studentβs guardians were contacted and came to the school to meet with school officials and the school resource officer.
One of the guardians told officials that she placed the firearm in the medical bag over the weekend when they went to Brown Mountain to ride ATVβs and forgot to remove it. The school resource officer also confirmed with the guardians that all firearms in the home were locked in two different safes.
The matter concerning the student will be turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice. The guardian was issued a citation for failure to store a firearm to protect minors.
