CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Parents are demanding answers after an 8th-grade student was arrested at a west Charlotte school.
Police said a teacher at Ashley Park, a K-8 school on Belfast Drive, first noticed the student acting "peculiar" and tipped off the school resource officer, who searched the student's book bag.
Police said the SRO found a handgun inside the book bag and then arrested the student.
CMS officials would not say if the gun was loaded but told Channel 9 there was "no direct threat" against a teacher or student.
Parents rushed to the school to pick up their children after seeing the news on Channel 9. Many said they did not receive notification calls from the district until much later.
"They called me about a half-hour ago to tell me the kids are safe. I don't feel like they are safe," said parent Antoinette Marchena.
Many students left the school in tears, telling Eyewitness News they were frightened.
"I don't feel very safe, I don't," said fifth-grade student Zarya Brooks. "They came into the classroom and searched everyone...and searched everyone's book bags."
Parents said this is the second time in two weeks Ashley Park has been placed under modified lockdown, after a 7th-grade student stabbed an 8th-grade student with a pair of scissors outside school in late April.
Police said they did not know if both events were connected, but some parents said they had had enough.
"I'm considering home school, somewhere safe. It's crazy out here," said Corey Hood.