A 13-year-old Saunders Middle School student was arrested by Prince William County police after a handgun he was carrying fired one round on a school bus Thursday afternoon.
The pistol belonged to his father, a U.S. Park Police officer.
No one was injured, but the Woodbridge teenager was charged with reckless handling of a firearm and possession of a firearm on school property.
“U.S. Park Police have started an internal investigation and are working very closely with Prince William County police,” said Sgt. Scott Fear, U.S. Park Police spokesman.
Fear would not name the officer, but said he was on restricted duty with pay.
“The bus driver reported a loud bang on the bus, thinking it might have actually been fireworks or something,” said Officer John Bogert, Prince William County police spokesman.
Police believe the teenager brought the gun to school merely to “show off,” not for a confrontation.
Alison Nourse-Miller, associate superintendent with Prince William County Public Schools, urged children to report “even the suspicion” of a weapon and for parents to talk to their children about keeping weapons out of schools.
Nourse-Miller said the schools are working with police to ensure this type of event does not happen again.
