News

Actions

Child finds gun in road while walking to school

Posted at 1:33 PM, Jan 25, 2012
and last updated 2012-01-25 17:27:22-05

Two guns were discovered Wednesday morning near Sunset View Elementary School in Provo.

An 8-year-old boy discovered a 9MM hand gun in the middle of the road near 1100 West 600 South while he was walking to school.  He picked up the gun, placed it in his back pack and handed the gun to a crossing guard, according to Provo police.

A few minutes later an adult female found another gun near 1600 West 600 South in the cross walk.  Neither gun was loaded.

“Greg Hudnall [Associate Superintendent] immediately locked the school down until officers had the opportunity to conduct a property sweep of the school and grounds,” said Sgt. Matt Siufanua, the public information officer.

Police say the second incident was handled appropriately because the woman who found the gun called police to handle the weapon.

“The best thing you can do, because you don’t know if the firearm has been involved in a crime or loaded, and could be possible evidence, is call police,” said Sgt. Siufanua.  “While the child’s intentions were pure, the police prefer they be called to keep safe, and that’s the message there. If children see weapons that are unsecured, they need to get an adult and that would’ve been better instead of walking all the way to the school after picking up the gun and putting it in his backpack like he did.”

Wednesday afternoon, Provo police recieved a call from an individual that lost his two hand guns.  According to Sgt. Siufanua, the individual was unloading his vehicle and placed the guns on top of his car.  He drove away without taking them down and they fell off into the roadway.