A teacher at Westview Early Childhood Education Center in Petersburg, Virginia, discovered a gun in a preschooler’s backpack on Wednesday, December 4. The preschool serves 3- and 4-year-olds and is part of the Petersburg City Public Schools system.
The teacher was putting homework into a student’s backpack when they found the firearm. The teacher immediately informed the school administration, which led to a response from the school’s security team and School Resource Officer, who secured the gun.
The preschool assured that the weapon was never taken out of the backpack and that no students or staff were in danger. Law enforcement is now investigating the incident.
The school emphasized that student safety is a top priority and is working closely with authorities to ensure a secure environment. They also encouraged parents to talk to their children about reporting safety concerns and to check their backpacks for prohibited items each morning.