Virginia parents charged after gun inside third grader’s backpack went off inside full classroom
The arrest of parents of a third-grade Virginia student made headlines after their son brought a handgun to school and accidentally fired it in class. Ciara Armstead, 36, and Terrence Carroll Jr., 34, were taken into custody by the Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office shortly after the incident at Lee Hill Elementary School.
The child had found the unsecured weapon at home and placed it in his backpack along with his school supplies. During class, while retrieving an item from his bag, the gun went off, prompting the teacher to evacuate all 26 students and notify the school resource officer.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, and an investigation revealed that the student had no intention of causing harm. As a result, the child will not face any charges in connection with the incident.
Armstead and Carroll, who are said to be cooperating with authorities, were charged with child endangerment and failing to secure the weapon. They were released on a $5,000 bond each and are scheduled to appear in court for arraignment next Friday.
This unfortunate event serves as a reminder of the importance of safely storing firearms away from children and ensuring that they are not accessible to them. It also highlights the need for parents and guardians to educate their children about gun safety to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
