Fifth-grader brings gun to school
By Melody Brown-Peyton
Published in News on February 18, 2018 3:05 AM
A fifth-grader at Carver Heights Elementary School brought a handgun to school on Tuesday.
School officials have confirmed that one of their students brought a pistol to school and kept the gun hidden during the school day.
The student also had two bullets that belong to a different type of handgun. School officials learned of the handgun when a classmate took home the two bullets.
That child's parents then alerted the school.
As part of protocol, the school contacted Goldsboro police who then confirmed that the weapon was unloaded and did not work and the bullets belong to a different type of gun.
Principal Cortrina Smith sent a letter home with students the next day.
"Wayne County Public Schools takes incidents like this very seriously. I would encourage you to talk with your child about making good choices about what they bring to school.
"Also remind them that if they become aware that another student has brought a weapon to school, to always tell an adult and to never take the item from them. It is our school's mission to ensure students have a safe learning environment.
"Students who are found to be in possession of a weapon on our campus will face disciplinary action in accordance with local board of education policy and North Carolina state law, which may include criminal charges."
Smith said the incident can become a teachable moment for both students and families.
Privacy laws prohibit releasing disciplinary actions that may have been taken by the school.
This incident comes the day before a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida killed 17 people.
Authorities say Nikolas Cruz went to his former high school just before the end of the school day and opened fire. He was later found a mile away from the school by police.
This is the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. in five years.
On Friday the FBI admitted in a statement that it did not follow up with information detailing concerns about Cruz.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has called on FBI Director Chris Wray to resign.