A six-year-old student in Virginia brought a loaded gun to school on Monday. Authorities are investigating how the child acquired the firearm.

This incident took place at Orange Elementary School, located roughly 29 miles northeast of Charlottesville, as reported by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on their Facebook page on Monday afternoon.

At 12:50 p.m., a school employee alerted a School Resource Officer from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office about a loaded gun discovered inside the school. Following this, the school entered a safe mode, as per the information shared by the sheriff’s office online.

The firearm was located inside a student’s backpack, which led the school resource officer and an administrator to secure the bag.

Later that afternoon, investigators confirmed that the 6-year-old had brought the gun to school, where it was discovered by an instructional assistant.

Fortunately, no one was harmed, and there were no threats made during the incident, according to the sheriff’s office.

The investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is ongoing, but they noted that no arrests have been made yet.

“We prioritize the safety and security of our students and school personnel,” the sheriff’s office stated. “As a precaution, there will be more law enforcement present at the school for the rest of today and tomorrow.”

Superintendent Acknowledges ‘Swift and Professional’ Handling of the Incident

Dan Hornick, the Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools, addressed community members online, referring to the event as “distressing.”

“We must acknowledge the prompt, professional, and comprehensive actions taken by the staff and administrators at Orange Elementary School,” Hornick stated. “Their vigilant response thwarted the situation from becoming more serious.”

He also expressed gratitude towards the sheriff’s office for their collaboration with the school.

In his statement, Hornick mentioned the importance of learning from such incidents. He explained that the school went into Safe School Mode, a procedure where classrooms are locked, and law enforcement along with school staff conduct an investigation.

During these critical situations, the aim is to quickly inform parents and guardians about what is happening, as noted by Hornick.

“Regrettably, this type of notification was not sent to the OES community today,” he mentioned, apologizing for this “oversight.”

Similar incidents have occurred nationwide over the past year, including a shooting on September 4 at Apalachee High School in Georgia, where four students were killed.

Hornick urged all parents and guardians to be extra vigilant in ensuring that students do not bring weapons or any dangerous items to school, particularly in light of recent events across the country.

As a parent of two children attending Orange County schools, he mentioned he would be checking his children’s bags more often and discussing safety with them.

“By working collectively, we can create a safe and vibrant learning environment for our students,” he emphasized. “Thank you for your ongoing support, especially during challenging times.”

Reporting by: Jeanine Santucci

Saleen Martin is a journalist with YSL News’s NOW team, originally from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin