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Gun found in Washington County grade school
By: Carly O'Keefe
ASHLEY, Ill. - Administrators of Ashley Grade School in Washington County say a second grade girl found a .22 caliber handgun in the ladies bathroom at the school at 8 a.m. Monday.
The student left the gun where she found it on the floor behind a toilet. She reportedly told a janitor, who in turn, took the weapon to administrators.
"It had five bullets in the clip, but none in the chamber," said Ashley Grade School principal and Superintendent Dr. Kay Bennett.
That Monday morning discovery put the Washington County grade school on lockdown, prompted a police investigation and created a lot of fear among students and parents.
Parents demanded answers in a meeting with school officials and law enforcement Wednesday night.
"My children haven't been (to school) in two days. I wanted to wait until the meeting tonight to learn what's done to keep them safe," said Ashley Grade School parent Lisa Lamar.
Administrators shared plans to beef up security for the future, and filled parents in on daily backpack checks and doors that will now remain locked during school hours. One big question remains that only investigators can answer.
"If we could just find out where the gun came from, I think we'd all feel a lot easier. We'd deal with the expulsion or punishment or whatever, but I think it's just the not knowing part that's got parents feeling uneasy," said Bennett.
The firearm did have a serial number. An initial check by police only revealed that it had not been reported stolen. Investigators say learning its owner takes more time. If it is learned that a student brought the gun to school, he or she will be expelled, if it was an adult, that person would face criminal charges.
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