A seven-year-old boy was injured by a gunshot after a firearm was accidentally discharged in a Maryland elementary school classroom.
The young student, in the second grade, sustained a self-inflicted wound when he brought a handgun to school, according to local authorities.
Freetown Elementary School, located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, initiated a lockdown procedure following the incident, which occurred at around 8:25 a.m. on February 4. The boy was promptly taken to a hospital, where it was determined that his injuries were not life-threatening.
Anne Arundel County Police released a statement indicating that officers arrived at the scene in response to the shooting. A teacher had already secured the weapon and administered first aid to the injured student.
Authorities confirmed that other students were present in the classroom at the time, but none of them were injured.
Police Chief Amal Awad expressed to CBS News: “None of us can imagine the terror or the fear that students experienced here this morning, and the teacher. We are very grateful that the teacher was very responsive in addressing that child’s injuries and making sure first responders were notified.”
Investigators are currently looking into the circumstances that led to the gun being discharged in the classroom. Initial findings suggest the boy obtained the firearm from his home, underscoring the importance of using free gun locks that are available.
Awad further questioned: “How did a seven-year-old baby get ahold of a firearm and make it all the way to school? This isn’t on the school. How did a seven-year-old child gain access to a firearm and discharge it?”
County Executive Steuart Pittman issued a statement to CBS highlighting the gravity of the situation: “Thankfully, no other individuals were injured. Still, we have students, parents, teachers, and school faculty who have been left traumatized. A gun in one of our schools is our worst nightmare, and we are all grateful this did not end worse.”
Based on data from the Everytown For Gun Safety Support Fund’s Not An Accident Index, there have been 26 accidental shootings by children in 2026. These incidents have led to nine fatalities and 17 injuries in the United States this year.
The year 2023 was declared the worst on record for unintended shootings by children, with over 400 incidents, marking the first time this number has been surpassed since Everytown began tracking in 2015.
Everytown emphasizes on its website: “One of the most effective ways to prevent these shootings is to ensure all guns are stored securely in homes, cars, and elsewhere. The gold standard for secure gun storage is to keep all guns unloaded, locked up, and separate from ammunition.”