SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — The parents of a third grader who had a gun discharge in their backpack at Lee Hill Elementary School are now facing charges, deputies said Tuesday.
The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office said Ciara Armstead, 36, and Terrence Carroll, Jr., 34, were arrested Monday after their son brought a handgun to the elementary school in his backpack, and it accidentally fired in the classroom.
The incident happened a short time before 11 a.m. when the child reached into his bookbag to grab something and accidentally pulled the trigger, according to deputies. Fortunately, no one was injured.
Once the gun went off, the teacher evacuated all 26 students from the classroom to the cafeteria and notified the school’s resource officer.
Following the incident, Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS) acknowledged the gravity of the situation and said counseling would be provided to anyone who needed it.
“We acknowledge that today’s event is concerning for our students, staff, and families. We are working to determine what additional steps we can take to fully ensure the safety and wellbeing of our school community,” SCPS said, in part, in a letter sent out Monday afternoon.
The boy had put the gun in his bag after finding it unsecured in his home, according to the sheriff’s office.
As a result, authorities charged Armstead and Carroll with recklessly leave a loaded, unsecured firearm so as to endanger the life or limb of a child under the age of 14 (misdemeanor) and while having custody of a child to be endangered (felony).
Both were released on a $5,000 unsecured bond and are scheduled to appear in court on April 11.
Officials noted that the pair cooperated with the investigation and that the boy will not face charges.