Safety & Security

Resource officer accidentally fires weapon at Virginia middle school

No one was injured when the gun discharged at George Washington Middle School in Alexandria.
March 13, 2018

Alexandria, Va., Police are investigating the accidental discharge Tuesday of an officer's gun at a middle school.

WJLA-TV reports that a school resource officer assigned to George Washington Middle School in Alexandria was in his office there when his gun accidentally went off.

Authorities say the officer checked immediately to see if anyone was injured. No one was hurt ,and the officer reported the incident to school staff and his supervisor.

Police say that everyone at the school was safe and that classes continued on schedule. The officer has been placed on leave while the police department conducts an investigation.

A statement on the school's web site reads: 

"At approximately 9:10 a.m., a school resource officer accidentally discharged his service weapon inside his office at the middle school. He immediately checked for potential injuries in the area. No one was injured. The officer then contacted his supervisor and school staff. All students and staff are safe and classes continued as normal.

"The officer is a five-year veteran of the Alexandria Police Department. The Alexandria Police Department is conducting an investigation into the circumstance surrounding the incident. The officer has been placed on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation."

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy, senior editor, has written for AS&U on a wide range of educational issues since 1999.

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