Published: October 09, 2008 09:24 am      

Gun found at Ashley Grade School

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

ASHLEY — Officials are still in the dark about how a handgun got inside the girls’ bathroom at Ashley Grade School on Monday morning.

“I wish we knew,” Superintendent Dr. Kay Bennett said.

According to Bennett, the .22 caliber handgun was found just after 8 a.m. before classes started by a second-grade student.

“We had just finished breakfast and it was before the first bell,” Bennett said. “Most of the students were in the gym.”

Bennett said the girl who found the gun went out into the hallway, where the daytime janitor was working just outside the bathroom door.

“She said she found something and needed to show her,” Bennett said. “She’s a little hero.”

The gun was loaded, although it hadn’t been cocked and all bullets were still in the clip. Law enforcement was immediately notified and the school went on lockdown for two hours while the building was searched for any additional weapons.

The serial number on the gun is being used to try to locate the owner, and Bennett sent out a letter to parents asking them to see if any of their guns are missing.

Since the handgun was found, students have been searched as they enter the school building, and a parent meeting was held last night.

“Our plans are to do the searches for the rest of the week, then from that point on a random basis,” Bennett said. “We want parents to understand that at no time were the children in danger. The students were excellent during everything and the staff was super. We want everyone to feel safe and make sure our security does that.”