KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Police in Overland Park say a boy accidentally fired a gun he found in his parents' car Thursday afternoon near Blue Valley Middle School.
A police spokesperson said the boy and a parent were inside a car watching the boy’s brother practice when the boy found the gun in the car.
Police say the boy fired the gun in the car, and the bullet went into the ground. It did not appear as if the boy was aiming or shooting at anyone.
No injuries were reported.
Bryan Salsgiver, the principal at Blue Valley Middle School, sent a letter to parents with children at the school.
Blue Valley Middle School Cardinal families,
I am coming to you tonight to share information about a situation that occurred this evening that is unrelated to the empty bullet casing found earlier today.
At the conclusion of football practice, an incident occurred that I feel is important to share with all Blue Valley Middle families. The message below was shared with football families earlier this evening.
I have important information to share with football families about an incident that happened at the conclusion of football practice on August 28. As football practice was ending, an individual alerted coaches that a gun had been discharged in the school parking lot. There were no injuries. The incident was immediately reported to local authorities. Law enforcement responded swiftly, conducted an on-site investigation, and is investigating it as a possible accidental discharge. Please note that this incident is unrelated to the empty shell casing found earlier today.
We recognize that this may have been an upsetting experience for those who were present, and we are especially mindful of the students who may have seen or heard things that caused alarm. On Friday, August 29 at 7 a.m., the coaches will meet with the team in the library in lieu of the regularly scheduled 6 a.m. practice and additional support will be available to your student.
The safety and well-being of our school community remain our highest priority. We are grateful for the quick response from law enforcement and for the individual who promptly reported the situation.
Thank you for your continued trust and support as we work together to keep our school community safe.
I want you to know that the safety of our students and staff is personal to me. We take incidents like this seriously and act quickly in coordination with law enforcement to ensure our campus remains safe and secure.
Thank you for your continued partnership and trust.
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If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.
Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.
