Orange County Sheriff's Office

ORANGE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has released more information about Monday’s situation involving a gun found at an elementary school.

According to the sheriff’s office, an instructional assistant at Orange Elementary School was helping a child who had arrived late to school.

The assistant was getting items out of the child’s bookbag when they found what appeared to be a firearm around 12:50 p.m.

At that time, the assistant notified school administrators and the School Resource Officer, who took possession of the firearm and the bag.

The firearm was removed from the school building, and personnel from the sheriff’s office responded to make sure students and staff were safe as well as to investigate.

Orange Elementary School was placed into a “Safe School Mode” and deputies were conducting interviews at the school late into the evening.

Officials determined a 6-year-old child brought the firearm, identified as a loaded Heritage Rough Rider single-action .22 caliber “Cowboy style” revolver.

However, there is no indication the child had any intention of using the weapon and did not understand the severity or the danger associated with bringing it to school.

Until the assistant found the gun, no one at the sheriff’s office or the school system was aware of its presence and there was no information or threat regarding a weapon on school property.

The investigation is ongoing.

The sheriff’s office says it tries to provide information to the public in a timely manner when a situation occurs, but any information provided needs to be factual and not speculation.

Additionally, officials say they are fortunate with the response of the school employees and grateful to have an SRO in the school to respond.

Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about the dangers of firearms. A child who sees a firearm should “stop, don’t touch it and tell an adult.”

Firearm owners have a responsibility to make sure their weapons are secured and accounted for as well as having any ammunition stored separately.

Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dan Hornick posted this statement Monday night regarding the situation at Orange Elementary School: