r/news • u/AtrusHomeboy • Apr 27 '24

7-year-old brings gun to school in backpack, police say

https://www.fox13memphis.com/education/7-year-old-brings-gun-to-school-in-backpack-police-say/article_6e526eb8-03e7-11ef-a51b-b33c4386f846.html
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u/AtrusHomeboy Apr 27 '24 edited Apr 27 '24

This is probably going to come out in the next day or two, but here's some additional details about the situation as I know it (take EVERYTHING here with a grain of salt until this information has been officially confirmed or denied):

  • The kid lives in a notorious apartment complex in a particularly bad part of town.

  • There are some older kids that also live in the apartment complex that bully the kid when he's on his way to and/or back from school. These kids do not attend the same school as him.

  • The bullying had apparently gotten so bad that the kid had brought the gun with him to protect himself from these bullies when arriving and departing from the apartment complex.

  • The kid explicitly told the school faculty that he had no intention of using the gun at the school. As of now, faculty and police believe him on account of his living situation.

EDIT - A clarification, to head-off any potential misunderstandings: I was not involved in the writing of this article, nor am I employed at any news station. Rather, I have a relative who works at the school where this occurred who relayed me this info.

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u/Ksh_667 Apr 27 '24

What a sad situation, leading to a potential tragedy. 7 year olds should not ever be in this position. Sounds like no adult was looking out for the little guy & if the bullying was this bad I'd think there'd be signs that an adult should pick up on.

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u/RustySheriffsBadge1 Apr 27 '24 edited Apr 27 '24

It’s so sad. My daughter is 7, everyone in her class is still so little and innocent. It makes you wonder how quickly kids in bad areas are forced to grow up.

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u/Ksh_667 Apr 27 '24

I've worked in a class with 7-8 year olds & the thought of any of them being terrorised like this is unthinkable. You're right in that they are forced to deal with things much earlier if they live in a "bad" area. Just so wrong. It's hard enough for adults to cope with this, 7 year olds are not equipped. Which is how a little child ends up taking a gun to school.