This article was originally published in The Examiner on May 18, 2017.
By Eleanor Skelton
Staff Writer
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso released new details on the May 15 shooting at Moss Bluff Elementary School.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call about a shooting at the school at 7:50 a.m. on May 15.
Investigators found that a first-grader brought a gun to school in his backpack, Mancuso said. The gun fell out of the backpack in the classroom and another student picked it up.
The loaded gun fired, hitting another student. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he had surgery.
Neither the student who brought the gun, nor the student who accidentally fired the gun will be charged due to their age, Mancuso said.
When the investigation is complete, the report will be forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office to determine if any charges will be filed against the owner of the gun.
“I’m a pro-gun advocate and I believe in the Second Amendment that allows us to possess and carry firearms,” Sheriff Mancuso said. “However, I also believe that it is our responsibility as gun owners to keep our guns locked and out of the reach of children.”
“In addition, talking to our children about the dangers of guns can help them know how to react if they encounter a gun at school or even at a friend’s house,” he said.
Eleanor Skelton 