Baltimore boy, 5, brings gun to school, mother arrested

At Baltimore's Northwood Elementary School, a teacher found a handgun in a pre-kindergartner's book bag. Now the 5-year-old's mother is in custody, CBS Baltimore reports.

City school police arrested 37-year-old Vernetta Holson Anderson, according to the Baltimore Sun, and charged her with giving a minor access to a firearm, reckless endangerment and having a gun on her person and in her vehicle.

CBS Baltimore confirmed with police the weapon was a .22 caliber handgun. The school system has not revealed whether it was loaded or not.

Northwood's principal sent a letter home to parents, which said in part: "We take everyone's safety seriously and work diligently to ensure that Northwood Elementary is a safe environment for learning."

It also asks parents to monitor what their children bring to school. Marlyand law requires officials to suspend students who bring a gun to school.

The Baltimore school system has not revealed if the child has been disciplined yet.

"The pre-K could have got the gun and just playing with it, him and other kids could have got hurt," Bridget House, parent of a Northwood student, said.

"Somebody could be at a funeral home making arrangements," said William Kitt, the grandfather of another student.