Father of Lauderdale Lakes elementary student facing charges after child found with loaded gun
FORT LAUDERDALE -- The father of a Lauderdale Lakes elementary student is facing a host of charges after he apparently confessed on Tuesday to mistakenly placing a loaded gun in his child's backpack.
Rasheed Anderson, 34, was arrested on one count of unsafe storage of a firearm as well as two counts of possession of a firearm after a pair of guns were found in his vehicle that was on school property, according to a written statement by the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
Anderson also faces a disruption of a school function charge, the statement said. It was not clear if he had posted bond as of late Tuesday.
The gun was discovered about 9:15 a.m. at Park Lakes Elementary School, located at 3925 N State Road 7.
School administrators imposed a lockdown as a precaution, officials said.
"This morning, our security team safely confiscated a loaded weapon that was found inside a student's backpack," Principal Rhonda Parris said. "I want to assure you this situation did not involve any threats toward our school and all students are safe."
Deputies spoke to the student and the child's father after the gun was found.
It was not clear if the student would be punished over the incident.
Officials confiscated the gun after it was found on campus.
"No threats were made to the school, students or staff," the sheriff's office statement said.
Officials did not immediately say how they learned about the weapon.
The lockdown that was put in place was lifted a short time later.
