A concerning incident unfolded at Lee Hill Elementary School in Spotsylvania County this week after a third-grade student brought a handgun to school, inadvertently causing it to discharge during class.
According to authorities, the child discovered an unsecured firearm within his home and subsequently placed it in his backpack before arriving at school on Monday. Shortly before 11:00 AM, while reaching into his backpack, the weapon was unintentionally triggered.
The teacher responded swiftly, immediately evacuating all 26 students from the classroom and alerting the School Resource Officer to the situation. Thankfully, no one sustained injuries as a result of the incident.
An investigation by the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office indicated that the child did not have malicious intent.
As a consequence of this event, the parents – Ciara Armstead, 36, and Terrence Carroll Jr., 34 – now face criminal charges. They are accused of:
- Recklessly leaving a loaded firearm accessible to a child under 14, a misdemeanor offense.
- Willfully or negligently endangering the life of a child, a felony charge.
Both Armstead and Carroll Jr. have been released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
“Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” stated a spokesperson for the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. “We are grateful that no one was hurt in this situation, but it underscores the importance of responsible gun ownership and storage.”
The parents are scheduled to appear in Spotsylvania County Juvenile Domestic Court on Friday. The child is not being charged with any offenses related to the incident.
As one parent stated: “It’s a scary situation for everyone involved, and we hope this serves as a reminder about the importance of gun safety.”
