Boy, 11, arrested after accidentally firing handgun at school
LAS VEGAS - An 11-year-old was arrested at his elementary school Wednesday after a .45 caliber handgun in his backpack went off in a classroom.
Clark County School District Police Captain Ken Young told 48 Hours' Crimesider that at about 3:20 pm, as students at Ruthe Deskin Elementary School were preparing to leave class, the child reached into his back pack and accidentally discharged the weapon.
The bullet went into a desk and no one was hurt.
Young said school personnel isolated the boy and discovered a BB gun, as well as the handgun in his backpack. School police were called and the boy was taken into custody.
He is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon on school property, discharging a gun on school property, and possession of stolen property.
Young said that the gun was not stolen from anyone related to the boy and that his parents have been "very cooperative."
The boy is being held in juvenile detention.
