LAUDERDALE LAKES, FLA. (WSVN) - A father is facing several charges after officials said he accidentally left his loaded gun inside his child’s bag, prompting a lockdown at Park Lakes Elementary.
On Tuesday, Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the school at around 9:15 a.m. after the call came in from the school, located at 3925 N. State Road 7 in Lauderdale Lakes.
According to BSO, the father, identified as 34-year-old Rasheed Anderson called the school informing them he was picking up his child’s bag, and that’s when an administrator looked inside and found a green 9mm handgun.
“How, how does a parent not know that their kids has a gun in their bookbag?” said Alison Miller, a parent.
Police searched the school and took the student and the student’s sibling under custody. Just before 11 a.m., the lockdown had been lifted.
According to the police report, the gun was loaded with a magazine and a round in the chamber.
“That’s so bad. That’s why I was worried about it, and I came here to see what’s going on,” said parent Mielle Exume.
BSO released a statement after coming in with the student: “Deputies made contact with the student and the child’s father, who stated he accidentally placed the weapon in the wrong bag,” the statement read in part.
Parents were alerted of what had occurred via robocall, many rushed to the school to pick up their children early.
“They finally called us, when I was sitting over there after an hour and on the robocall, and they said that a kid brought a book bag, a loaded gun in a book bag,” said Miller.
After searching the campus, the loaded gun was safely located and confiscated. Police then focused their attention on a black Mercedes where they found two more guns on the passenger side, a Glock 9mm and a Ruger LCP.
Investigators said that gun was reported stolen out of Hollywood.
The car was also towed, and Anderson was charged with one count of unsafe storage of a firearm, and two counts of possession of a firearm. He also faces a disruption of a school function charge.
According to school officials, no threats were made to the school or staff.
No injuries were reported, and Anderson remains at the Broward County Jail.
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