On Thursday, a scary situation for parents, faculty, and students took place at Challenger Elementary School in Huntsville. It all happened around 2:45 as students were being dismissed from school.
According to officials with Huntsville City Schools, students were in the hallway preparing to go home when a firearm accidentally went off in a second-grade student’s backpack, with the bullet lodging in a laptop in the backpack of another student. No injuries were reported after the incident other than the child with the laptop reporting ringing in their ears.
School officials immediately responded by following all safety protocols and working with law enforcement. Reportedly, the student who brought the weapon to school will face disciplinary consequences in accordance with the school’s student code of conduct and applicable board policies.
Huntsville City Schools board member Andrea Alvarez commented on Facebook regarding the incident.
“I was notified around 3:15 pm of a weapon discharge at Challenger Elementary School, and I immediately went up to campus,” said Alvarez. “Law enforcement and building administration had already contained the situation and ensured all students were safe and the weapon was contained. District personnel, as well as HPD investigators and other agencies, immediately began investigating the matter, and as soon as we had the facts of the preliminary investigation, we alerted families of the event. Huntsville City Schools plans to release more information as the investigation is finished.”
The scare hit home for Alvarez, whose child goes to Challenger.
“I want to praise God that none of our children or staff were injured or killed today. This is yet another case of children having access to unsecured weapons. Huntsville City Schools was already in the process of acquiring and implementing weapons detection devices at our Elementary schools like we have at our middle and high schools. In light of today’s event, we will have a weapons detection device at Challenger Elementary tomorrow and will continue to roll out those systems to all elementary schools as soon as possible.”
Officials also promised to bring extra security personnel on-site and use enhanced screening as students enter the building. Counselors will be on campus for those students who need extra support dealing with the aftermath of the experience.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
