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SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. - An investigation is underway after authorities say a child brought a loaded gun to an elementary school in San Tan Valley.
What we know:
The incident happened on Sept. 22 at Copper Basin K-8, which is located near Copper Mine Road and Hunt Highway.
The Pinal County Sheriff's Office says an 8-year-old student brought a loaded 9mm handgun to the school and showed it to friends.
"A school employee saw this occurring and immediately intervened," PCSO said. "The child involved never made any threats to students or staff."
What we don't know:
It's unknown how the student obtained the weapon.
What they're saying:
The Florence Unified School District says the weapon was secured by school staff before deputies arrived.
"Florence Unified School District commends the principal and Copper Basin Elementary staff for their professionalism and composure in addressing this serious situation. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority, and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement as the investigation continues. Because this is an active investigation and involves a minor, no further details can be shared at this time. We thank our community for their understanding and support," the district said in a statement.
Copper Basin parents reacted to the startling news, with one saying, "It’s very scary and, unfortunately, in this world today, as a parent, it’s something that you have to worry about."
Another parent said, "People say parents need to watch their kids more. You can’t watch kids. You don’t know what they’re doing every second. A boy walked out of the house with a gun. Parents, I’m sure they didn’t know that."
In Arizona, there is no law penalizing parents who don’t secure their firearms, leaving them accessible to an unsupervised minor, nor is there a law requiring firearms to be stored in a certain way.
"Parents need to be better teachers. They’re still children. They don’t understand the depth of what damage that can cause. It’s kind of like, it’s a play toy to them. They don’t see it as this can take someone’s life," a parent said.
Over the last year, Valley area schools have seen a rash of reported incidents where a minor had access to a gun. Ten incidents involved bringing a firearm to or near a school campus.
A parent stated, "There’s been so many school shootings and violence that I think it becomes common place sadly. But now that I’m a parent, it hits differently."
What's next:
The sheriff's office says their investigation is still active, and they are working with the county attorney's office, and the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
It’s still not clear if the student or the student’s parents will face criminal charges.
Map of the school
The Source: Information for this story was gathered from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office and the Florence Unified School District.