CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A student brought a gun to an east Charlotte elementary school on Friday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said.
The incident happened a little before 8 a.m. at Devonshire Elementary School, which is located on Barrington Drive, just off The Plaza and Milton Road.
School administrators called CMPD after a student told them another child brought a gun onto campus. School staff members then confiscated the gun, which was not loaded, according to police.
The gun was turned over to CMPD officers and no one was hurt during the incident. No further details were provided by CMPD.
The following message was sent to parents on Friday:
"Good morning, Devonshire Elementary School families and staff. This is Principal Hackl reaching out to inform you that a student brought an unloaded gun to school today. A student reported it immediately and staff immediately confiscated the weapon. Our children are safe in their classrooms and learning is continuing.
Possession of a weapon of any kind in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is a violation of the Code of Student Conduct and can have serious consequences. As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority and we work diligently to provide a secure learning environment for everyone. We encourage all students to report weapons or threats to a trusted adult to continue our dedication to having safe schools.
Thank you for your continued support of Devonshire Elementary School."
Keeping guns off campus is a priority for families and for CMS, but not an easy task. However, progress has been made. In the 2021-22 school year, 29 guns were confiscated from students on campus. Last year saw six guns taken. As of March 11, a total of six guns have been found to date this school year, according to CMS.
WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com.
WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.