Police arrested a 10-year-old student who reportedly brought a gun to Monroe Elementary School in Monroe, Maine on Friday morning.
According to authorities, they arrived at the school shortly before 9 a.m. after receiving a report that the student was in possession of a firearm. School staff worked with police to detain the student and confiscate the weapon.
The student was arrested and taken to the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, but authorities have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to the school or community. The school district has not commented on the incident.
Parents in the area expressed their concerns, with one parent saying that “things are moving north and it’s getting worse and worse,” and that more needs to be done within the school district to address such situations.
This incident is not unique, with similar cases occurring in other states such as Virginia, where a 6-year-old brought a gun to an elementary school and shot a teacher in January.
In that case, the prosecutor decided not to pursue charges against the child, but has yet to determine if any adults associated with the incident could be held criminally liable.