Sixth Grader Brings Gun To School, Says Parents Told Him To Carry It For Protection After Newtown Shootings

A sixth grader in Utah told classmates yesterday his parents encouraged him to bring a gun to school in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy. He was apprehended by teachers after he was found with an unloaded .22 caliber rifle, according to local station, Fox 13.

The student remains unidentified, but is described as an 11-year-old boy at West Kearns Elementary School, in a suburb of Salt Lake City. He reportedly took the gun out of his backpack during recess Monday afternoon and showed it to classmates. Isabel Rios, a fellow student, told teachers he pointed the gun at her head and said he was going to kill her.

A spokesman for the school district told Fox 13 that although they were not notified immediately, teachers apprehended the student in '30 to 45 seconds' once they were alerted to the weapon. He was then taken to the principal's office.

Local parents, however, aren't satisfied with the school's reaction. John Klaus, a father, complained, 'There was no lockdown. No one was called. Nothing was done. And then we had to hear it from our kids.'

The administrators say there was no lockdown because the situation was resolved immediately and more importantly, they feared startling students. Police were called to determine the boy's parents' involvement in the incident and he was taken to juvenile hall.

Watch the full clip below, via Fox 13:

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