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Detectives investigate how 7-year-old Broward student had access to gun

District commends Dillard Elementary student who reported boy brought handgun to school

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Before classes started on Friday morning, a student told his teacher there was a boy at Dillard Elementary School who had a gun, according to Broward County Public Schools.

School administrators placed the school, at 2330 NW 12th Ct., in Fort Lauderdale, on a code red lockdown. Detective Ali Adamson, a spokeswoman for the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, said the school’s guardian took the gun from the 7-year-old boy.

Pam Greaves has four grandchildren who attend the school. She said administrators sent her a text message reporting the lockdown shortly before 8 a.m. She said she learned about the gun on campus while watching the news and rushed to pick them up.

“What if no one had noticed he had it and something much tragic had happened,” Greaves said.

Dillard Elementry School remained on a code yellow lockdown on Friday afternoon as the school’s resource officer and detectives investigated how the student got a hold of the gun.

“The District commends the student who did the right thing — seeing something and saying something,” a district spokesperson said in a statement.

Deborah Bosket said her grandson attends Dillard Elementary and she lives right across the street from the school, which has about 800 students

“When I was looking out my bedroom window, I’d just seen all the cops,” Bosket said. “It’s just crazy and senseless.”

Adamson said the student who brought the gun to school was detained and detectives questioned his parents, but he will not be facing any criminal charges. The school district released a statement saying the student will face school disciplinary measures.

“The parents shouldn’t have something that serious out and loose, and around the kids,” Bosket said.

Read the complete statement Broward County Public Schools released:

This morning, prior to the start of the school day, school administrators at Dillard Elementary School received information from a student about a possible weapon on campus.

School administrators immediately placed the school on a code red lockdown and safely handled the situation and confiscated the weapon. The school remains on a code yellow lockdown as the school’s School Resource Officer and law enforcement continue its investigation.

The student involved will face appropriate school disciplinary measures. The District commends the student who did the right thing - seeing something and saying something. At all times, the safety and security of our students and staff are our highest priorities.

3 p.m. report


About the Authors
Amanda Batchelor headshot

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Roy Ramos headshot

Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018. Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City. He attended Christopher Columbus High School, Homestead Senior High School and graduated from St. Thomas University.

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