A Brentwood third-grade teacher Wednesday discovered more than notebooks and pencils in the desk of one of her pupils:

She found a loaded semiautomatic handgun.

The student at North Elementary School was charged with weapons possession as a juvenile, as Suffolk detectives tried to determine how the youngster got the gun.

The weapon was taken to a county crime lab for tests to see if it was operable, according to Det. Lt. Matt Sullivan.

The unidentified student arrived late to class shortly after 10 a.m. and put the contents of his backpack, including the handgun, into his desk, Suffolk police said. As another student stood up to go the bathroom, "the teacher saw the first boy gesturing to him and overheard some of their conversation," Sullivan said. The boy was "trying to get his attention to show him the gun" when the teacher approached. The teacher spotted the gun and confiscated it.

School officials notified police and the boy's mother, who met the child at the school. He was charged at the Third Precinct as a juvenile with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said. The student was later taken with his mother to a Suffolk Family Court, where he was released to his mother's care.

The .25-caliber Remington's considerable age will make it a challenge to trace its ownership through the serial number, Sullivan said.

"We have not been able to pinpoint the ownership or any kind of transaction for years and years . . . but we're not stopping there. We continue to interview people," he said. Police and school officials said it was unclear what the boy's intention was, but no threat was made. "We're still looking into exactly why he brought the gun," Sullivan said.

Brentwood School District spokesman Rick Belyea said school district officials believe the boy brought the gun from home, but Suffolk police said they had not yet been able to determine that.

"We have absolutely no reason to think there was any threat made," he said. No decision had been made about potential disciplinary action pending the conclusion of the police investigation.

"We are working hand in hand with the Suffolk County Police Department regarding the seriousness of this situation," said district superintendent Donna Jones in a statement. "The safety of our students is our number one priority. Our parents need to know that we reacted swiftly, making sure our students were never at risk." The district used a phone alert system to notify parents of the incident and sent students home with a letter.

The handgun held five bullets in the magazine. If the gun is proved operable, police said the charge could be upgraded to a felony. Family Court judges have a high degree of latitude when imposing sentences on juveniles.

District trustee Roland Jimenez, who lives in the area of Brentwood where the school is located, said he was concerned about the gun's availability to the child.

Will Grayson Meak faceoff against Devin Downes in counties? Meanwhile North Babylon’s Jasmine McKay hoops it up and there's history on the mat in Nassau County in Episode 2 of "Sarra Sounds Off."  Credit: Mario Gonzalez

SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Wrestling, North Babylon hoops and more! Will Grayson Meak faceoff against Devin Downes in counties? Meanwhile North Babylon's Jasmine McKay hoops it up and there's history on the mat in Nassau County in Episode 2 of "Sarra Sounds Off." 

Will Grayson Meak faceoff against Devin Downes in counties? Meanwhile North Babylon’s Jasmine McKay hoops it up and there's history on the mat in Nassau County in Episode 2 of "Sarra Sounds Off."  Credit: Mario Gonzalez

SARRA SOUNDS OFF: Wrestling, North Babylon hoops and more! Will Grayson Meak faceoff against Devin Downes in counties? Meanwhile North Babylon's Jasmine McKay hoops it up and there's history on the mat in Nassau County in Episode 2 of "Sarra Sounds Off." 

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