An 11-year-old boy was charged with juvenile delinquency for allegedly bringing an unloaded handgun to the Tangier Smith Elementary School in Mastic Beach on Wednesday, Suffolk County police and school officials said.
A fellow student who discovered the non-functional firearm at dismissal told a teacher and police were then called to the scene, authorities and school officials said. The student, whose identity was not released because of his age, brought the gun to school in his backpack, police said.
“At no point were students and staff in danger,” the William Floyd School District officials said in a statement on the district’s website.
The boy was released to the custody of his parents. He will also face disciplinary actions, but school officials noted that federal law prohibits them from releasing exactly what those actions will be.
The boy’s father—whose name was also not released to protect the child’s identity—was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.
Both ware scheduled to appear at Suffolk County court at a later date.
Seventh Squad detectives are continuing the investigation.
