UPDATE, 11:40 p.m.: The city schools system just released a statement, confirming that a third-grader at Sharp Leadenhall Elementary was arrested Thursday for possession of a loaded .380 caliber handgun. School staff determined that the student was acting suspiciously and began closely monitoring the student's behavior, eventually searching his backpack and contacting school police to retrieve the weapon. The student was arrested and transported to the Department of Juvenile Services.
Schools and city police are conducting an investigation to determine the gun owner and the purchase origin of the weapon before determining if charges should be filed against others that may have contributed to the student coming into possession of the handgun.
In addition to being arrested, school officials said the student may face "extended suspension" or expulsion following "due process."
Sharp-Leadenhall Elementary has been described as a school attended exclusively by special education students. As of the 2008-2009 school year, it had just 66 students enrolled.
ORIGINAL POST: An 8-year-old boy has been arrested for bringing a loaded 9-mm handgun to his elementary school, according to a report at the Investigative Voice. The gun was discovered at about 3 p.m. Thursday at Sharp Leadenahall Elementary School in South Baltimore, which is located between Federal Hill and M&T Bank Stadium, after a teacher overheard the student threatening to shoot a classmate, the site reported.
"This is a tragedy for everyone but it could have been a lot worse," Jonathan T. Brice, executive director of student support for the city school system, told the web site.
We're awaiting an official statement from the school system and will update here as we learn more.