Homestead dad faces charges after gun found in child's backpack at school
MIAMI - A Homestead dad is facing charges Thursday evening after police said a gun was found in his child's backpack at school.
It happened as Homestead Police responded to Keys Gate Charter School, located in the 2000 block of SE 28th Avenue.
Investigators said that the father of the 6-year-old, identified as Reginald McCoy, 39, placed the firearm in the backpack for unknown reasons and forgot that the firearm was in the backpack when the student was driven to school.
The unloaded firearm was located in the backpack of the kindergartner.
McCoy faces child neglect charges.
The school released the following statement about the incident:
"We are so proud of a student who saw a suspicious item and immediately reported this to a trusted adult. The item turned out to be an unloaded weapon brought by a young student. We immediately involved law enforcement and no students or staff were ever in any danger. The safety of our students is our highest priority, and we will continue to take all appropriate actions. Thank you again for your support."