11-year-old student finds handgun in backpack at Pittsburgh school

PITTSBURGH — An 11-year-old student found a handgun in their book bag shortly after arriving at school Monday, school officials said. That gun was loaded.

It happened at Allegheny Traditional School on the North Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

The student, who was visibly shaken, reported the gun to the teacher, who immediately secured it. The incident was reported to Pittsburgh school police and to Childline.

No students or staff were hurt. Parents were notified about the incident.

Channel 11 has learned the school has metal detectors, however, each school has its own policy.

Pittsburgh Public School’s spokesperson Ebony Pugh said in a statement:

“The intake procedures vary by school. Some have the bags go through the detector and some schools have staff take bags as students go through.”

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