James Chavez |
LAKEWOOD, Colo. - A semiautomatic handgun found in a student's backpack at a Lakewood elementary school on Wednesday was loaded, according to the school's principal.
Police were called to Molholm Elementary School right after a teacher made the discovery toward the end of the school day while cleaning up a classroom.
The backpack belonged to a four-year-old girl; a kindergartner at the school which is located at 6000 West 9th Avenue.
School personnel secured the weapon until police arrived.
"The handgun belonged to a parent of the student (who) inadvertently left it in the child's backpack prior to taking the child to school in the morning," a Lakewood Police statement said.
Police arrested James Chavez on suspicion of child abuse, reckless endangerment and unlawfully carrying a weapon on school property. Chavez told police that he carried the gun for protection and had inadvertently left it in his daughter's backpack.
Other parents are obviously concerned about the incident.
"You don't know what your kid is taking to school? You don't look in your kid's backpack? You have a gun in your house and you don't know where it is? How can a kid get a gun? And you don't store it in a backpack," said Anthony Smith, whose child attends Molholm.
Principal John D'Orazio sent a letter to parents Thursday, trying to ease concerns.
"Your student's safety is always our highest priority and our safety regulations are designed to take as many precautions as we can to prevent potentially dangerous situations from occurring," the statement read.
Police were called to Molholm Elementary School right after a teacher made the discovery toward the end of the school day while cleaning up a classroom.
The backpack belonged to a four-year-old girl; a kindergartner at the school which is located at 6000 West 9th Avenue.
School personnel secured the weapon until police arrived.
"The handgun belonged to a parent of the student (who) inadvertently left it in the child's backpack prior to taking the child to school in the morning," a Lakewood Police statement said.
Police arrested James Chavez on suspicion of child abuse, reckless endangerment and unlawfully carrying a weapon on school property. Chavez told police that he carried the gun for protection and had inadvertently left it in his daughter's backpack.
Other parents are obviously concerned about the incident.
"You don't know what your kid is taking to school? You don't look in your kid's backpack? You have a gun in your house and you don't know where it is? How can a kid get a gun? And you don't store it in a backpack," said Anthony Smith, whose child attends Molholm.
Principal John D'Orazio sent a letter to parents Thursday, trying to ease concerns.
"Your student's safety is always our highest priority and our safety regulations are designed to take as many precautions as we can to prevent potentially dangerous situations from occurring," the statement read.
