CAPE CORAL, FLA. — The Lee County School District says a loaded handgun was found inside a kindergarten student’s backpack at Trafalgar elementary Tuesday morning - prompting a quick response from staff and police.
Fox 4's Bella Line spoke with a CCPD Public Affairs Officer about what happened:
The Cape Coral Police Department says a five-year-old student unknowingly went to school with the gun in their backpack after entering campus through the OPENGATE weapons detection system.
A district representative says the situation triggered an alert to school staff, who immediately separated the student from others and safely located the loaded handgun.
FOX 4's Eric Lovelace spoke to parents after hearing the news:
Police say the threat detection system possibly saved lives.
“There is absolutely no reasonable explanation as to why this could have or should have happened because of the aftermath that could have existed from the situation," said Officer Mercedes Simonds.
Investigators say the child did not know the gun was inside the backpack and had no intent to harm anyone, a determination echoed by the Lee County School District.
Cape Coral Police say the child’s father, James Edward Wilson IV, was arrested and is facing charges of child endangerment and improper storage of a firearm.
Police say thankfully no one was hurt and there is no threat to the school.
The incident left parents shaken but grateful for the school's security measures.
"It's never something you want to hear happen at your kids school," Taylor Ashby said.
The school district says it has had OPENGATE weapons detection systems at every entry point, in every school, for three years, which parents are grateful for, especially in these situations.
"It's reassuring for us, not just as teachers but as educators, to keep our schools safe," Ashby said.
