Child charged for allegedly bringing gun to Queen Creek school, Pinal County Attorney says

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. - A 9-year-old student accused of bringing a gun onto the campus of a Queen Creek school on the morning of Aug. 25 has been charged.

Officials with Legacy Traditional School say they contacted the Queen Creek Police Department regarding the incident just after 8:30 a.m. When officers arrived at the school, Legacy Traditional staff had already moved the child away from other students.

Police confiscated the weapon and placed extra officers at the school.

Legacy Traditional Schools officials released a statement about the incident, saying the principal was placed on administrative.

"The wellbeing of Legacy students, teachers and staff members is our highest priority, and that includes supporting a safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environment. We are investigating the circumstances around Thursday’s discovery of an armed student on campus, and this inquiry includes making certain the administration at all times followed Legacy security protocols. Principal Alvarado has been placed on administrative leave pending completion of this review. We look forward to continued conversations with our students, parents, teachers and staff members to ensure our school lives up to Legacy’s high standards."

On Nov. 7, the Pinal County Attorney's Office said the student was charged with minor in possession of a firearm and interference with or disruption of an educational institution in connection to the incident. Both charges are felonies.

The attorney's office added that "there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction against the juvenile's parents for any crime."

"Given the inherent danger involved with a gun being on a school campus, PCAO must take this seriously," Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer said in a statement. "However, it is important to appreciate that the juvenile justice system is focused on rehabilitation and correcting behavior and that will be our focus."