Police in Massachusetts recover loaded firearm from 7-year-old while attending school

Officials expressed their concern after it was discovered that a young child in Massachusetts was in possession of a loaded gun while at school.

Just after 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Officers from District 11 in Boston responded to a radio call to 85 Olney St., the Up Academy Holland School, for a report of a student with a firearm.

On arrival, officers recovered a loaded firearm from a 7-year-old student attending the school.

Detectives from District C-11 (Dorchester) and the Boston Police School Unit are currently investigating this incident.

“The Boston Police Department is focused on the proliferation of guns in our City and keeping access to them away from the youngest among us needs to be a priority for everyone. We are grateful to Superintendent Mary Skipper and the Boston Public Schools for working with us to keep a safe school environment for the kids in our City,” said Commissioner Michael Cox, Boston Police Department.

“The person responsible for allowing access to this weapon is going to be held accountable,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “No child should be near a weapon, much less directly endangered at such a young age. Thanks to the swift action and coordination of school staff, Boston police, and first responders, this situation was immediately identified and safely addressed.”

“I’m speechless. I don’t have the words. This is truly devastating,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “We have to ask ourselves how a very young student becomes in possession of and gains access to a firearm. We’re working with all of our city and state partners every day, multiple times a day, to address safety concerns, strategize new tactics to keep students safe, and create synergy in our responses to emergencies. We’re grateful to BPD and first responders who were on the scene immediately. But we cannot do this work alone. When a young person gets access to a gun out of accessibility, we really have to ask ourselves, how does this happen?”