The charges were announced by Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker during a news conference.
Two adults have been charged in connection with an incident where a 7-year-old student brought an unloaded gun to a Michigan elementary school
The child’s mother, Aubrey Wilson, 32, has been charged with fourth-degree child abuse, a misdemeanor. Wilson’s fiancée, Chelsea Berkley, 29, faces a felony charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Berkley is currently in custody on unrelated charges.
According to Becker, one of the individuals brought the gun into the home, while the other placed it in a location accessible to the child who subsequently brought it to school. It remains unclear whether Wilson or Berkley have retained legal representation. This incident is the latest in a series of cases involving adults responsible for elementary school-aged children who have brought firearms onto school grounds.
In a separate incident, just a week after the discovery of the unloaded gun, another elementary school student arrived at school with a loaded handgun
The loaded weapon was found inside the backpack of a third-grade student at Stocking Elementary School. Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom expressed concern about these incidents, noting that in his 23 years of policing, he had never encountered such young children carrying guns in school.
In response to these alarming incidents, Grand Rapids Public Schools recently implemented a ban on backpacks, following the lead of Flint Community Schools, which had implemented a similar ban earlier in May. Both districts cited safety concerns as the primary reason for the ban. These bans come at a time when schools nationwide are grappling with the challenge of preventing and preparing for potential gun violence on campuses.
The incidents in Michigan highlight the growing issue of firearms being brought into schools across the United States. Schools are increasingly implementing measures to address this problem and ensure the safety of students.
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