T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA An unloaded gun along with a magazine were found in a student’s backpack at Barnesville Elementary School on Monday morning.

BARNESVILLE — Police say they found no indication of ill intent when a Barnesville Elementary student brought an unloaded handgun and an empty magazine to school Monday morning.

The Barnesville Police Department is investigating an incident that involved a pistol being found in a Barnesville Elementary School student’s backpack, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page. Police responded to the elementary school shortly after 9 a.m. after learning that school staff members were in possession of a pistol removed from a student’s backpack.

The police department also noted that school staff told police that a staff member was made aware that a student had shown other students the pistol and that it was in their backpack.

The staff at the school secured the backpack and took it to the office then contacted police.

The Barnesville Police Department is still investigating the incident; however there has been no indication the student had ill intent, according to the department’s social media post.

“Chief (Rocky) Sirianni is grateful to Barnesville Schools and the Department for their handling of the incident. The school did great acting quickly on the information they received, securing the backpack, and contacting the Police Department,” the post states. “This is an ongoing investigation and any charges will be forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review and approval.”

Barnesville Exempted Village School District Superintendent Micah Fuchs said because of the nature of the situation, he is limited as to what he can say. However, he did say the school is blessed to have such a great relationship with the Barnesville Police Department.

“This was a coordinated effort this morning,” Fuchs said. “I am very thankful for the response of all involved in today’s situation; the police department, staff and administration.”

The district did not dismiss school during the incident.

A message that was sent out to parents of students within Barnesville schools read, “This is Micah Fuchs, Superintendent of Barnesville Schools. I wanted to inform families that a student brought an unloaded weapon to school as well as a magazine in their book bag. Law Enforcement is involved in the situation. The School has followed all safety protocols and procedures and there is no emergency situation at this time. Our first priority is the safety of the students and staff. Thank you for your support and have a wonderful day.”

Belmont County Coroner Amanda Fisher said not only did she have concerns as a parent of two elementary students at the school, but also as the coroner. She said the incident could have gone a completely different way.

As the coroner, if someone would have been fatally shot, Fisher would have had to respond to her own children’s elementary school to potentially examine a classmate or teacher.

She stressed the importance of parents and guardians locking away guns properly in their homes.

“We are gun owners, but we are responsible gun owners,” Fisher said of her family. “My children are 7 and 8. They hunt, they have their own firearms, but everything is locked away. If you are going to have firearms in your home and you have children, you have to have the conversation of gun safety.”

Fisher was also frustrated with the communication of the school to the parents, saying most parents received a robocall that did not specify in which school building the incident took place, while Head Start parents received information that it took place in the elementary school.

“The main points for me are, I wish that communication lines could have been a little bit clearer from the school and not as vague,” she said. “And I hope this is a strong message and a reminder to parents that maybe don’t have a firearm in a safe and secure place to put them in one so that this doesn’t happen to their child.”