8-Year-Old Girl Finds Handgun In Her Backpack At St. Paul School

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP/WCCO) -- Police in St. Paul are investigating how a loaded handgun ended up in the backpack of an elementary school student.

Sgt. Mike Ernster says the 8-year-old girl put her backpack on the floor at John A. Johnson Achievement Plus Elementary School Monday and heard a thud. Ernster says she opened the backpack and found the gun, then told her teacher about it. The girl wasn't sure how the gun ended up in her bag.

Police responded and secured the semiautomatic handgun. The magazine of the gun was loaded, but the chamber was empty.

The child was released to the mother, who did admit the gun was hers.

The investigation into how the gun ended up in the child's backpack is ongoing.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)