Note: This story has been updated with arrest information
PETERSBURG – Police have arrested the mother of a preschooler after the child brought a gun to Petersburg’s Westview Early Childhood Education Center.
Late Wednesday evening, police announced the arrest of 26-year-old Brianne Lucas on charges of felony child neglect and reckless handling of a firearm. She is being held without bond at Riverside Regional Jail in Prince George County pending a court appearance.
According to the school’s social media page, the weapon was found by a teacher Wednesday while placing homework into the child’s backpack. The school said the gun was safely recovered by Westview’s security team and school resource officer, and no one was injured.
“At no point was the weapon displayed or removed from the backpack, and the safety of students and staff was never directly threatened,” school principal Dr. Stacie Parham said in a letter to parents that was posted online.
Saying that student and staff security remains “our top priority,” Parham vowed that the school would work with Petersburg Police to “enforce strict safety protocols to maintain a safe learning environment.
“We encourage all parents to speak with their children about the importance of reporting any safety concerns and ask that they check their children’s backpacks for prohibited items every morning,” Parham wrote.
Westview is located at 1100 Patterson St. in southwestern Petersburg.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Mother of Petersburg preschooler arrested when child takes gun to school
