An Alabama second grader's life was saved when a laptop inside their backpack stopped a bullet after a gun discharged inside another student's bag, authorities said.
The incident occurred on February 6 at Challenger Elementary School. The gun went off while inside the student's backpack, with the bullet exiting and striking another student's backpack, according to police. By sheer luck, a laptop took the bullet and turned what could have been a tragedy into a miracle. No one was hurt.
Yet, investigators couldn't determine how the firearm got into the second grader's backpack, and the child couldn't explain it.
The Alabama Department of Human Resources is now implementing a safety plan and working with the student's family.
While Huntsville police initially filed two criminal case reports—one for unlawful possession of a pistol by a minor and another for reckless endangerment—the Madison County District Attorney's Office ultimately decided not to pursue charges against the young student, per local news.
The number of students carrying guns in school has surged by 150.7% since 2020. Data from Fall 2017 to Spring 2023 shows that 275 firearms were brought to school by students under the age of 11, with the majority of cases occurring in the past two school years, according to Brady United.
Authorities continue to investigate how the firearm made its way into the elementary school and are working with all parties involved to ensure safety measures are in place.
