Deputies: Boy, 8, won't be charged after bringing gun on school bus

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A third-grader was found with a gun in his bag while riding a Seminole County school bus Thursday, according to officials.

Seminole County school leaders said the bus monitor was told by children on the bus that the boy had a gun and the bus monitor noticed the boy acting suspiciously.

Officials said the alert bus monitor checked the bag belonging to the Geneva Elementary School student and found the gun.

The bus monitor called authorities, and the school board said it contacted parents, informing them of the incident.

Officials don’t think the child was being bullied, or was targeting anyone, and believe he just wanted to take the gun to school to show off to his friend.

“We don’t know of any threats to harm anyone else. When the child was asked why he brought the handgun to schools, he indicated that the gun was his father’s,” said Chief Deputy Dennis Lemma.

Deputies said they are currently not considering pressing charged against the 8-year-old, but they’re trying to decide if they are going to charge his parents.

Nicole Rodrigues was upset when she got word that a child was caught with a gun on the bus.

She has two kids who attend Geneva Elementary School and she is worried about letting them come back.

“I really just don’t want to bring them back to school for the rest of the school year,” she said. “I’m praying that this [brings] attention to parents and families. If you have a gun, educate [your children].”

The child was taken to the juvenile justice center, where he and his parents were interviewed.

Officials said the family is emotional and very sorry about the incident.

The third-grader could be suspended or expelled.

The boy's name was not released.

WFTV