Officials from the school district in Newport News, Virginia have confirmed that a search was conducted of a 6-year-old boy’s backpack before a shooting occurred, but no weapon was found. The 6-year-old is now accused of shooting his teacher.
The school district’s spokesperson said the search was conducted in accordance with the district’s safety protocols. The spokesperson noted that the search was conducted by school staff in the presence of the student’s parent.
The spokesperson added that the search was conducted after the school received information that there was a potential threat to the school’s safety. The school district is now working with police to investigate the incident.
The 6-year-old is currently in police custody and is facing charges in relation to the shooting. The teacher is reported to be in stable condition. The district is also offering counseling and other services to students and staff affected by the incident.