Unloaded handgun found at Turlock’s Walnut Elementary; police say no threat to school
An unloaded handgun was found in a bag at Walnut Elementary in Turlock Friday morning before classes started on the last day of school, according to district officials.
In an email sent to parents shortly before 10 a.m. Friday, Turlock Unified School District spokeswoman Marie Russell and Walnut Elementary Education Center principal Sumeet Singh addressed the incident. According to the email, a custodian found a backpack near a trash enclosure at about 6:30 a.m. that morning.
Inside was an unloaded handgun with no ammunition, the message said. Turlock police were called and removed the backpack and gun prior to the start of the school day.
“We know that this may be alarming for parents in light of current events,” the email reads in part, and goes on to say, “This does not appear to have any connection to the Walnut campus.”
Turlock Police Chief Jason Hedden told The Modesto Bee he believed the handgun was located in a purse, along with other personal items. He said the handgun was registered, and officers are contacting the registered owner to see if it was in the person’s possession or stolen.
“The other items (in the purse) lead us to believe it was mistakenly left instead of planted,” he said.
He added there was no threat to the school, but the police department remains in communication with the district and will provide extra patrols.
Walnut school is a district Renaissance & Discovery Magnet program, which its website says teaches students through a “S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math) lens.” The campus is located in the northern part of the city, between Taylor Road and Christoffersen Parkway.
District officials said the school decided to continue its last day activities, but will “remain vigilant following our TUSD safety and security protocols.”
This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 11:27 AM.
