SAN ANTONIO – The father of a 3-year-old Pre-K 4 SA student is under arrest after a gun was found in the student’s backpack on Tuesday morning, according to San Antonio police.
In a notice sent to parents, CEO Sarah Baray said a teacher found the gun, and the student was unaware it was in their backpack.
The gun was confiscated before the backpack was brought into the classroom.
In a statement from SAPD, Chief William McManus praised the swift action taken to ensure safety.
“This incident underscores the important collaboration between the school faculty and law enforcement personnel,” McManus said. “Swift action was taken to address the situation and make an arrest. There are no current threats to the safety of the school or its students. To provide further assurance, SAPD will maintain an increased uniformed presence at the school for the foreseeable future.”
The child has been placed in protective custody with Child Protective Services.
The child’s father, 35, was arrested on child endangerment charges.
KSAT has elected not to name the father in an effort to not identify the child.
Baray said while the gun was brought into the school unintentionally, the incident has caused Pre-K 4 SA to re-evaluate its safety protocols.
“Effective immediately, we are pausing the use of backpacks in our schools. We know that young children sometimes bring items from home without understanding whether the item is potentially dangerous. This temporary restriction on the use of backpacks will allow us time to determine how best to proceed in the long term,” Baray said in the letter to parents.
Students will be allowed to bring needed items to school in a clear plastic baggie.
Pre-K 4 SA is the city-funded early education program. It has four standalone education centers throughout the city and a program at Gardendale Elementary School in the Edgewood Independent School District.
The investigation remains active, with the possibility of additional arrests and charges.