Charges referred after student mistakenly brings loaded gun to Shady Lane Elementary, school officials say

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Updated: 6:00 p.m. on January 16, 2018

UPDATE: MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Charges have been referred against the father of the student who brought a loaded handgun to an elementary school, school officials say.

The charges referred include possession of a firearm in a school zone and recklessly endangering safety.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Stay with CBS 58 News for more information on this developing story. 

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MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- An investigation was launched after a student mistakenly brought a handgun to Shady Lane Elementary School on Friday.

School officials say the handgun was mistakenly put into a student's backpack and brought to school. The student did not know it was in the backpack and it was never taken out while in school.

The student's teacher discovered the handgun while placing something in the student's backpack. A support staff member immediately brought it to the office. 

Police responded to the school and began their investigation.

The investigation revealed that the handgun was inadvertently put in the wrong bag, the student's backpack. The student did not know it was there and did not bring it to school to harm anyone or even to show anyone.

The Menomonee Falls Police Department is now handling the investigation and situation from a legal standpoint.

School officials sent out a statement to district families which read in part,

"This student was not a perpetrator of a crime but caught in the middle of a potentially traumatic experience for a young student. Shady Lane as with all of our schools is an exceptional place to learn. Our focus is the safety of children at all times, nobody was hurt, there was no intention to do harm. The staff reacted professionally and appropriately to ensure the safety of everyone at school. We have great schools and great families here in Menomonee Falls and we thank you for being a part of our family."

During the press conference, the Superintendent of Menomonee Falls schools stated, "We have a young child who is at no fault and parents who were not aware of the situation."

It is not believed that the parents are the ones who placed the gun in the student's backpack.

The student is between the age of 4 and 7.

To check out the full press conference with school officials, see below.

Stay with CBS 58 News for more information on this developing story. 


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