Lemira student brings handgun to school

Authorities confirmed today that a student at Lemira Elementary School brought a handgun onto school grounds Thursday.
Sumter police found the weapon in the book bag of the juvenile, whose name was not released because of his/her age. Officers responded to the Sumter school just before 2 p.m. after an assistant principal there reportedly found the firearm.
Police are investigating where the child got the gun and why he brought it to the school. Sumter School District officials said the weapon was not loaded, although authorities indicated they found a fully loaded clip as well. A police department spokesman said the gun was never made visible to anyone at the school and noted there was no reason to think the student intended any harm anyone with the gun.

Read more in Saturday's edition of The Sumter Item.