STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — A handgun was located in the backpack of a preschool student at an elementary school in Sterling Heights on Tuesday morning, police say.
According to the Sterling Heights Police Department, officers responded to the Head Start Program at Schwarzkoff Elementary School around 8:15 a.m.
See the story from Evan Sery in the video below
Police say staff found the gun in a girl's backpack and notified police.
The police department is now working with Utica Community Schools to investigate how the gun ended up in the child’s possession. We're told the student has been removed from the head start program.
“Well, honestly it was kind of a shock when you first said that," Haley Walsh, who lives near the school, said.
“The teacher noticed that that item did carry additional weight not consistent with clothing, they did what they were supposed to do, looked inside the bag, and discovered there was a firearm inside," Stgt. Lamar Kashat with the Sterling Heights Police Department told us.
Chris Tappl, whose kids go to the school, spoke to us about the incident.
"We should never get to this point, especially with kids. How do you get to that weapon or whatever it was," he said.
Another parent who wished to remain off camera told us, “Per UCS district policy, if someone brings firearms to the district, it's grounds for expulsion. What kind of parents are raising that kid? You have a preschooler in your house, and you're not locking up your firearms?”
The district provided the following letter that went out to school families about the incident:
Dear Schwarzkoff Community,
I want to share with you a situation being addressed in partnership with the City of Sterling Heights Police Department and Macomb County Head Start Agency.
As you may know, Schwarzkoff is the site of a Macomb County Action Head Start program. This federal preschool program is administered by the county and located at Schwarzkoff Elementary.
This morning, as students were entering the building, the Macomb County Action Head Start teacher observed what appeared to be a weapon in a student’s backpack. The teacher followed safety protocols and took immediate action to secure the backpack without alarming the students.
The teacher sent the backpack to the office where it was confirmed that a weapon was in the bag. The Sterling Heights police were immediately contacted and they identified the object as a handgun registered to the child’s parent. The pre-school child indicated that they did not know that a weapon was in the backpack. Police are actively investigating this situation and the student is not in the program.
We would like to commend the teacher and our staff for taking immediate action. As you know, Utica Community Schools has strict protocols to ensure the health and safety of our students. These protocols and the diligence of our staff ensured the safety of our staff and students.
Since this is a criminal investigation, we would refer all questions about the investigation to the Sterling Heights Police Department at 586-446-2945. We will continue to fully cooperate with Sterling Heights Police Department and Macomb County in their work. We appreciate their proactive partnership with our district and their commitment to the safety of our educational community.
Andrew Cox, director/health officer of the Macomb County Department of Health and Community Services, released this statement.
"We want to acknowledge the incident that occurred at Schwarzkoff Elementary School and reassure families and the community that all children and staff are safe. The safety and well-being of the children, staff, and everyone in and around our program remains our highest priority. While it is deeply concerning that a weapon was found in close proximity to our classroom, we commend the swift and decisive actions of our staff, as well as the rapid response and support provided by the Sterling Heights Police Department. We continue to fully cooperate with the school district and law enforcement as they review this matter and remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all."
