From Campus to Classroom: Stories That Shape Education
- Student allegedly discharged a firearm into a toilet at Meadowcreek Elementary before classes began.
- Administrators discovered a broken restroom toilet; the student admitted intentional damage and received school discipline.
- School police confirmed the student brought the gun from home and discharged it; no one was injured.
- Tony Lockard, district chief of police, said the investigation is preliminary and the juvenile's identity is protected.
- Officials urged parents to secure firearms and check students' backpacks; school police will consult the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office.
Gwinnett County Public Schools officials said the student was arrested and will face criminal charges.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A student is accused of firing a gun into a toilet at Meadowcreek Elementary on Thursday morning before classes began.
Bernard Watson, director of community and media relations for Gwinnett County Public Schools, shared a video news release about the incident along with the district’s chief of police, Tony Lockard.
Watson said the incident came to light on Thursday after administrators learned about a broken toilet in a restroom. School officials said a student admitted to damaging it intentionally. The student was disciplined for the incident.
But it was Friday when they learned more information about what happened.
“A parent and several students reported that the same student had brought a firearm to school on Thursday and threatened to use it to shoot the toilet,” Watson said. “School police immediately investigated and confirmed the student had taken a gun from home, brought it to school, and discharged it in a toilet before classes began.”
No one else was in the restroom, and no one was injured. The student was arrested and will face charges in the case.
Lockard said school police will collaborate with the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office to determine if criminal charges will also be forthcoming against the parents. Officials said they are limited on other details they can release at this time.
“The investigation is at the preliminary stages right now, and we want to protect the identity of the student because it is a juvenile,” Lockard said.
After sharing what they could about what Watson described as a “disturbing incident,” Lockard urged parents to take measures to secure firearms and even go a step further by always knowing what students are taking to class.
“Make sure that there’s nothing in your child’s backpack that shouldn’t be there prior to them leaving for school,” he said.
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