8-year-old arrested in St. Mary's County for bringing loaded gun to elementary school, deputies say

PARK HALL, Md. - An 8-year-old has been arrested after bringing a loaded gun to a St. Mary's County school, according to officials.

The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office said its deputies, along with special agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, responded to Park Hall Elementary School on Hermanville Road in Park Hall, Maryland for a report of a student with a handgun Wednesday morning.

Deputies said a student alerted a school staff member that another student was in possession of a gun.
The school official confronted the student and found a loaded handgun in the student's bag, according to the sheriff's office.

The 8-year-old, whose home is located in an off-base military housing community, is believed to have brought the gun from home, deputies stated.

The sheriff's office said the 8-year-old's parents are both active duty military members.

The student was placed under arrest and charged as a juvenile with dangerous weapon on school property, handgun on person, and disturbing school operations.

The sheriff's office said its investigation was ongoing and that NCIS was working to determine how the child had access to the gun.

The incident occurred less than a month after 17-year-old Austin Rollins brought a gun to a Great Mills High School in St. Mary's County and killed one 16-year-old Jaelynn Wiley and injured 14-year-old Desmond Bryant on March 20.