EPPD: Ysleta Elementary student found stolen gun, took it to school

A student at Ysleta Elementary School was found to be in possession of a 45-caliber handgun Thursday morning, El Paso Police said.

School officials took the weapon, secured it and called the school’s police officer for help.

El Paso Police say an investigation revealed the student found the gun and ammunition and took it to school.

An investigation revealed the weapon had been reported stolen in 2012 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“Due to the age of the child, Child Protective Services was notified of the case and the investigation continues,” El Paso Police said in a news release.

The police department would like to remind parents to educate and speak with their children about what to do should they come into contact with a gun or a weapon. The should not touch the weapon and they should tell an adult about it immediately.

PREVIOUS ARTICLE:

School administrators at Ysleta Elementary found a weapon after receiving a report of a student possibly armed.

“We responded immediately, the weapon was found and the El Paso Police Department was notified,” the school district said in a statement emailed to ABC-7.

ABC-7 spoke with the father of an Ysleta Elementary student. The parent, who asked not to be identified, said the school principal told him the student took an unloaded .45 firearm. That information has not been officially confirmed by the school district.

“News has definitely been … shootings here, shootings there … concerts, schools, theaters it worries you,” said a concerned parent.

The district sent a letter home explaining what happened.

“The incident was handled according to the district’s Student Code of Conduct and the appropriate disciplinary action has been taken. Due to student confidentiality laws, we are unable to release any other details at this time,” the district said.

The school district did not clarify if a student was in possession of the weapon or where the weapon was found.

A parent tells ABC-7 he would have liked to have been notified sooner.

“I receive calls throughout the day when I’m at work … ‘This is Ysleta Independent School District come have coffee with your superintendent’ or ‘We have a book fair ‘ or ‘We have this luncheon happening’ and that’s on the regular and you would figure an event like this you’d receive a call saying there was a danger in the school we took care of it,” the parent said.