A 4-year-old brought a loaded pistol to Bowling Green Primary School yesterday, but didn't intend to hurt anyone, according to the Caroline County Sheriff's Office and school officials.
Lt. Col. Michael Hall of the Sheriff's Office said no one was hurt and immediate action was taken after the boy was seen in class with the gun.
The weapon was confiscated and the boy's family was called, he said.
The Sheriff's Office is investigating but no charges are expected, Hall said.
According to Virginia law, "recklessly" leaving a loaded firearm within reach of anyone under age 14 is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
The student will be suspended, said School Board member Tamara Redding, who said she spoke with Bowling Green Primary Principal Debra Holt.
Another student saw the gun in the boy's backpack and thought it was a toy but told the teacher anyway, Redding said.
The teacher immediately took the backpack to the office, she said. "My understanding is that [the gun] was never out of the backpack."
Redding said she thinks students aren't even allowed to bring toy guns to school.
Holt called the student's mother and asked her to come to the school before calling police, Redding said.
In a letter sent home to parents, Holt wrote that there was never a threat.
"Upon discovery, the situation was appropriately and immediately resolved," she wrote. "No one was injured, nor was there ever any threat of injury."
Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424