Teacher finds gun in Petersburg preschooler’s backpack
PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- A teacher found a gun in a Petersburg preschooler's backpack on Wednesday. Westview Early Childhood Education Center is a preschool that prepares 3 and 4-year-olds to enter kindergarten. It is a part of Petersburg City Public Schools. According to the preschool, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, one of its teachers was putting homework into an unidentified student's backpack and noticed a firearm in said bag. The teacher immediately notified school administration, prompting a response from both the school's security team and its School Resource Officer. The officer then secured the firearm. "At no point was the weapon displayed or removed from the backpack and the safety of students and staff was never directly threatened," the preschool said. "Law enforcement is actively investigating the situation." The preschool said the safety and security of its students and staff remains its top priority. "We will continue to work closely with law enforcement and enforce strict safety protocols to maintain a safe learning environment," the preschool said. "We encourage all parents to speak with their children about the importance of reporting any safety concerns and ask that they check their children’s backpacks for prohibited items every morning." No additional information is available at this time. This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
VENN
PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- A teacher found a gun in a Petersburg preschooler's backpack on Wednesday.
Westview Early Childhood Education Center is a preschool that prepares 3 and 4-year-olds to enter kindergarten. It is a part of Petersburg City Public Schools.
According to the preschool, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, one of its teachers was putting homework into an unidentified student's backpack and noticed a firearm in said bag.
The teacher immediately notified school administration, prompting a response from both the school's security team and its School Resource Officer. The officer then secured the firearm.
"At no point was the weapon displayed or removed from the backpack and the safety of students and staff was never directly threatened," the preschool said. "Law enforcement is actively investigating the situation."
The preschool said the safety and security of its students and staff remains its top priority.
"We will continue to work closely with law enforcement and enforce strict safety protocols to maintain a safe learning environment," the preschool said. "We encourage all parents to speak with their children about the importance of reporting any safety concerns and ask that they check their children’s backpacks for prohibited items every morning."
No additional information is available at this time.
This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.
