6-YEAR-OLD TOOK FATHER’S GUN TO SCHOOL ON PURPOSE

Students in county caught with guns 10 times this school year.

WEST PALM BEACH — A kindergartner put his father’s loaded gun inside a backpack Thursday and brought it into his classroom, according to Palm Beach County sheriff ’s authorities.

Somerset Academy Lakes and sheriff ’s officials initially said the 6-year-old didn’t know the gun was in his bag until it fell out of his backpack when he tossed it down in the classroom that morning.

On Monday, however, law enforcement said the boy knowingly brought the gun to the West Palm Beach-area charter school.

His father told authorities he had no idea his son took the gun. It’s unclear whether anyone will face charges in the incident.

When the investigation is completed, detectives will turn the case over to the State Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges should be filed.

Principal Clint Duvo stressed to parents in a message Thursday that neither students nor the staff at the Summit Boulevard campus were in danger.

The teacher “immediately rushed the students out of the classroom” and notified the school’s staff, according to the sheriff ’s office. The principal contacted law enforcement.

Students have been caught with guns in Palm Beach County District schools at least 10 times this academic year, according to a Post analysis of court, police and school records. Only one of those incidents happened at an elementary school. It occurred last month when a gun was found in a Cholee Lake Elementary School student’s backpack.

Somerset Academy Lakes is not a district school, meaning crime on campus is not handled by school police but instead by the sheriff ’s office.

About one in 10 of the county’s students attend charter schools.