(Thechieftainspear) – A social media video showing a young boy carrying what resembled a gun near an Irvine elementary school sparked concern among parents this week, prompting calls for better communication from school officials.
The video, filmed Wednesday afternoon near Loma Ridge Elementary School in Orange County, showed the child walking with the object in hand before stashing it in his backpack. The situation escalated when a photo allegedly posted by the same boy surfaced online, displaying the gun-shaped object accompanied by a message that read, “Don’t mess with me y’all.”
Many parents were alarmed after seeing the images online Thursday morning. Some reportedly pulled their children out of school, frustrated by what they said was a lack of timely information from school officials.
“There was no outreach from the school — no heads-up to parents,” one parent told KTLA, asking to remain anonymous. “We only learned about it through social media.”
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In response, the Irvine Police Department launched an investigation after being contacted Wednesday around 3 p.m. Officers coordinated with school administrators and the boy’s family and determined that the item was a non-functioning, 3D-printed object shaped like a revolver. Police clarified that the object had no mechanical parts and could not operate as a real weapon.
According to law enforcement, the boy did not threaten anyone or point the toy at others, so no crime occurred. Any disciplinary decisions would be handled by the school and the student’s parents.
Annie Brown, a spokesperson for the Irvine Unified School District, confirmed that parents were eventually notified about the incident. One message sent out emphasized that the Irvine Police Department had been called immediately and had concluded the student was carrying a toy gun.
A follow-up message sought to reassure families, stating that the object was “a solid, non-functional block that posed no threat” and that the incident happened off campus.
School officials also noted that due to privacy laws, they are unable to discuss any specific disciplinary actions taken.
“The safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our highest priority,” the school district stated. “Had the object been an actual firearm, the response and communication would have reflected that immediately.”
