A loaded handgun discharged in a 9-year-old student’s backpack at a Charles County elementary school Thursday morning, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

The student at Billingsley Elementary School was retrieving a piece of paper when they inadvertently discharged a loaded firearm that was in their backpack just before 10:30 a.m., according to the police report. The firearm was aimed at the ground, and no injuries were reported.

The .357 caliber revolver was recovered by a nearby school resource officer, according to the police report.

A preliminary investigation showed the firearm might belong to a relative visiting the student’s family, according to police. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding how the student came into possession of the weapon and why it was in their backpack.

After the investigation, the case will be presented to the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

“We are incredibly thankful and fortunate that no one was injured during today’s incident,” Sheriff Troy D. Berry said in a statement. “I want to take this moment to urge all parents and guardians to have a conversation with their students about the very real dangers of handling or bringing any type of weapon to school. These conversations matter. This incident provides an opportunity to reflect on and reinforce the importance of safety and responsibility.”

Charles County Superintendent of Schools Maria V. Navarro sent a letter to the families of students at Billingsley Elementary School outlining the incident on Thursday.

“This is a situation that no student, teacher, staff member, parent or community member should ever have to face,” Navarro wrote. “I recognize the emotional impact this has on our community, and I am committed to keeping everyone informed as we learn more about what happened. We will be hosting a community meeting after spring break to discuss the incident and answer questions with the Billingsley community. More information will be shared at a later date.”

To allow students and staff to process the incident, the elementary school was closed Friday, but counselors were available from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

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