Loaded handgun found by third graders on school playground in Rutherford County

Rutherford County Schools communications department confirmed social media posts that students recently found a handgun on the Kittrell Elementary School playground.

"Third-graders on the playground notified their teacher about a handgun on the ground," district spokesman James Evans said Thursday. "This happened April 18. We notified parents on the same day and followed up with a second message after an arrest was made the same day."

Kittrell Elementary's School Resource Officer secured the weapon, Evans said.

"It was loaded but there was not a bullet in the chamber," Evans said. "Law enforcement investigated and tracked down the owner of the gun, who was a 19-year-old male. He said he had been on the playground the night before and must have dropped it. He was charged with felony possession of a gun on school grounds."

The Daily News Journal emailed Rutherford County Sheriff's spokeswoman Lisa Marchesoni at 2:14 p.m. May 2 and awaits a reply to learn the name of the arrested man and other criminal justice facts in the case.

This story will be updated.

Book freedom dispute: Rutherford Schools remove 30 books deemed obscene: 'It's not OK to limit books for my kid'

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. To support his work with The Daily News Journal , sign up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Loaded handgun found by third graders on school playground in Rutherford County