Child Brings Loaded Gun In Lunchbox To Summer Camp For Kids Aged 6 And 7

Concord, North Carolina -- A child at a summer camp was found in possession of a loaded handgun inside his lunchbox in North Carolina.

An adult was cited by the police after the 9 mm handgun was seized at the Concord summer camp, attended by children aged 6 and 7.

The discovery was made by a fellow camper who informed a counselor about the gun being on the premises of the Les Myers Park Summer Camp on Tuesday. The staff immediately confronted the child, secured the weapon and alerted the Concord Police Department, the Charlotte Observer reported.

Cops responded and seized the weapon. Nobody at the camp was injured.

Officials said the child had “no intent to cause harm” or threaten staff members. Nevertheless, the child won’t be able to return to the camp.

“Bringing any weapon, including a toy weapon, is a violation of camp policies and cause for immediate expulsion,” the city spokesperson reportedly said. “The safety of campers and staff is our number one priority, and our Parks and Recreation staff are reviewing current procedures and possible added precautions following today’s incident.”

Investigators found that the weapon belonged to the child’s family acquaintance, identified as Cynthia Earnhardt, 48. Earnhardt was cited on a charge of failure to properly store a firearm to protect minors.

Kristy Fals, whose 6-year-old daughter Breea was at the camp Tuesday, said she only found out about the discovery of the gun when she went to pick Breea up.

“She’s like ‘I saw the police and they took a boy with them,’” Fals told WBTV.

Breea was sent home by camp staffers with a letter that addressed the incident about the handgun in the lunchbox.

“The fact that there was a loaded gun potentially within arm’s length of my child, that’s scary to even just process what could of happened," Fals told WCNC Charlotte. “I had a panic attack and literally broke down crying, and I could probably still cry thinking about it."

Fals believes the camp should have called parents to inform them about the gun. “I can’t even believe I have to have this conversation," she said.

“To be honest we're lucky the child spoke up, we're lucky that, that child knew enough that they knew the gun was very unsafe," the mother added.

Officials took the chance to remind gun-owners about the importance of safely storing their weapons, especially so that an unsecured gun does not reach a child's hands.

“We’re grateful for the quick actions of our camp staff and that no one was harmed. Yesterday’s incident, however, is an important reminder for all gun owners to take care to properly secure and store their firearms to help keep kids safe and prevent unintentional tragedies,” the city spokesperson told WBTV.