Gun found in Audrain County student’s book bag

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A bus driver seized a gun from an elementary school student in the Van-Far School District on Thursday morning, the district said in a message to families.

The elementary student had the gun in his bag on a bus before school and another student told the bus driver he had a weapon, Superintendent John Fortney said Thursday. The driver pulled over and took the bag from the student, Fortney wrote.

The driver turned the student over to the building principal and a police officer who works at the school, Fortney wrote. The principal and officer found the gun in the book bag, he said.

Fortney said no one was hurt and officials don't believe the child was a threat to others. Everyone involved followed safety protocols, he wrote. He encouraged parents with questions to contact the principal.

The Van-Far district is located in Vandalia in Audrain County.