Baltimore County school officials found a gun that shoots plastic pellets in the backpack of a student at Charlesmont Elementary School in Dundalk on Wednesday.
Students tipped off school officials who went to the student's class and found the air soft gun, according to Dale Rauenzahn, Baltimore County's executive director of student support services.
The student first brought the gun to school Tuesday, Rauenzahn said, and school officials are trying to encourage students to come forward immediately when they have information about a weapon.
Students who bring real guns to school are automatically expelled from school; however, the air soft gun is classified as a weapon, not a gun.
The school district does not make public the disciplinary actions against students, but Rauenzahn said the appropriate action will be taken.