Parents Charged After GA Boy Brings Loaded Gun To School

GAINESVILLE, GA — The parents of an 8-year-old boy who brought a loaded handgun to school last week are now facing misdemeanor charges, Hall County authorities said Monday.

The incident took place Thursday morning at Myers Elementary School in Gainesville, where the Hall County Sheriff's Office said the handgun was confiscated from the second-grade boy after he showed it to another student.

The gun was left unsecured, and the boy was able to take it from the console of his parents' vehicle on Wednesday evening, authorities said. He then took the gun to his room and brought it to school the next morning, authorities said.

The boy showed the gun to a classmate who then reported it to a teacher, who notified the school principal, authorities said.

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The principal then searched the student and confiscated the handgun before alerting the school resource officer, authorities said.

The officer determined the handgun had a loaded magazine, but there was no round in the chamber, authorities said.

Mom Heather Thuy Rodriguez was arrested Thursday afternoon in connection with the incident, authorities said.

The boy's father, Cristian Ruben Rodriguez-Martinez surrendered at the Hall County Jail Friday afternoon, authorities said.

Both parents are 31-years-old Gainesville residents and are facing reckless conduct charges, authorities said.

They have since posted $1,300 bonds and have been released from jail, authorities said.