On September 24, 2014 a first grade student from Midland Trail Elementary was found on the school bus with an unloaded, single-shot pistol. The bus driver was alerted on the afternoon run by another student who overheard the first grader talking about a gun he had with him.
The bus driver alerted other authorities, and a school resource officer with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office responded. The pistol was a single-shot, .45 caliber pistol. No ammunition was found with or in the gun. It was unloaded. No threats were made to other students, and no confrontation or intimidation has been uncovered as a result of the investigation. The first grade student was sent home with his parents or guardians.
All parties involved have been cooperative with the investigating School Resource Officer. Part of the investigation will attempt to answer how the gun came into the student’s possession, and if any negligence was potentially criminal in nature.
The Kanawha County Board of Education and Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office take seriously any incident involving a firearm on school property, school buses, or at school events. These matters are always thoroughly investigated, regardless of the age of the child or initially reported circumstances.
When the Deputy has completed the investigation the facts and any evidence will be presented to the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for consideration.
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Corporal B. D. Humphreys
Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office
301 Virginia Street East,
Charleston WV 25301
desk: 304-357-0732 / cell: 304-951-7328
Follow us on Twitter: @kanawhasheriff