Morgan County Sheriff Tyler Hooks and Chief Deputy Jason Welch responded to Morgan County Elementary School on May 19 following a report that a fifth grader had brought a handgun to school in his bookbag.
According to Welch, the student showed the gun to other students during morning classes, and later told the school nurse he didn’t feel well. He was dismissed from classes and went home.
The students to whom he showed the gun felt confident enough to report its presence to teachers that afternoon, and the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office was notified at around 2 p.m.
Welch said that Hooks is particularly sensitive to the presence of weapons on school campuses because he attended Heritage High School and was in the parking lot on May 20, 1999, (almost 26 years ago to the day) when T. J. Solomon opened fire on the campus in Rockdale County, wounding six students.
Welch said the handgun was an airsoft variety, but its all-black coloring and .44 magnum label gave it an authentic appearance.
The student confessed to having the airsoft gun at school but said he brought it by mistake. He claimed the gun belonged to a friend, and the mother confirmed the family did not own any firearms of that type.
“While no students or staff were harmed, this is a serious matter that we do not take lightly,” Sheriff Hooks said in a Facebook post. “Even imitation firearms can cause panic and pose real safety concerns within our schools. We are working closely with school officials to ensure appropriate actions are taken and that safety protocols are reviewed and reinforced.
“I want to remind all parents and guardians to speak with their children about the dangers of bringing any type of weapon, real or replica, to school. The safety of our students and school staff remains our highest priority, and we will continue to take every necessary step to protect our schools and our community.”
Teachers expressed appreciation for the quick response from the MCSO.
“So thankful to have those SROs (School Resource Officers) and other officers present during the day,” said MCES teacher Kimberly Stone Jaynes, also a graduate of Heritage High School. “We teachers really appreciate it.”