MacArthur Student Handed Weapons Charge Following Toy Gun Incident

The Alexandria Police Department charged a 10-year-old city resident with brandishing a weapon following an incident involving a toy gun Monday afternoon on a bus ride from Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.

Alexandria City Public Schools notified police of the incident Tuesday morning. No one was injured in the incident.

According to a release from ACPS, the student showed the toy weapon to other students during the bus ride.

Police officers went to the elementary school at 1101 Janneys Ln. early Tuesday morning and met with administrators before the student’s arrival.

Upon the fifth-grader's entrance into the school, the student was stopped and found to be in possession of a gun in his backpack, according to a release from the Alexandria Police Department.

Further investigation revealed the gun to be a toy replica weapon with an orange tip.

The student was taken into custody without incident and transported to juvenile intake.

"The safety of our students is always our first concern," ACPS Superintendent Morton Sherman said in a statement. "We appreciate the quick response and action by our police. The student is suspended from school. The school division will complete its investigation in cooperation with the police as we consider further disciplinary action, including expulsion. As always, we encourage direct communication from parents, including personal phone calls."