Sheriff: 9-year-old student took loaded gun to Bradenton school

MANATEE -- A 9-year-old boy took a loaded handgun to Prine Elementary School on Wednesday and placed it just outside the front door of the school, where another student found it Thursday morning, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

"The boy told detectives he found the gun on Tuesday near his residence and gave no reason as to why he left the gun at school," the sheriff's office said in a news release Thursday evening.

No charges have been filed in the case, which remains under investigation.

Thursday morning, the sheriff's office reported that a student arriving for the day advised the principal that he had seen the gun, which was located in a grassy area underneath a rain gutter down spout, according to a news release.

The sheriff's office said the weapon was a loaded .32-caliber Beretta.

"It could not be determined at this point who or when the handgun was put there because there is a wall concealing the view from the front-door camera," the release states.

Prine Elementary School is located at 3801 Southern Parkway, Bradenton.

Detectives have determined that a 9 year old boy took the firearm to school yesterday and placed it where it was found this morning. No charges so far as the investigation continues.

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 10:32 AM with the headline "Sheriff: 9-year-old student took loaded gun to Bradenton school."