6-year-old brings gun to Springfield school: 3 things to know now

A 6-year-old student at Kenwood Elementary School in Springfield was taken to juvenile detention after allegedly bringing a loaded gun to the school on Thursday. Here’s three things to know now about the ongoing investigation.

» RELATED: Police: 6-year-old brought loaded gun to Springfield school

1. Boy allegedly finds loaded gun, brings it to school

According to a letter sent home with students and given to the Springfield News-Sun, a student was found with a weapon at Kenwood Elementary School before the start of classes Thursday.

Springfield Police Chief Lee Graf said the 6-year-old child brought the loaded handgun to school in his backpack. After speaking to the student, the child said he found it in an unlocked car while walking to school that morning, he said.

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2. Swift response from staff

Graf said a teacher from the school noticed the gun and brought both the weapon and boy to the principal’s office. No children or staff were hurt.

Kenwood Principal Ally Thurman said in the letter given to parents that law enforcement was immediately notified and the situation was handled quickly.

“The student will face discipline in accordance with our student code of conduct,” she said “As you are aware, the safety and security of our students will always be our top priority.”

The boy was taken to the juvenile detention center.

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3. Springfield City Schools issues statement

Springfield City Schools Superintendent Bob Hill said in a statement student and staff safety is paramount in the district.

“At Springfield City School District, student and staff safety is our No. 1 priority,” he said in the statement. “Anyone involved in breaching that safety will face serious disciplinary actions and additional consequences to the maximum extent of the law.”

The situation at Kenwood comes in the wake of several incidents at Springfield-area schools in recent weeks, including a Springfield High School student being arrested for making threats against the school on Facebook and an 8-year-old boy bringing an unloaded gun to Simon Kenton Elementary School.

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