'Could've ended in tragedy': Florida mother arrested for placing gun in student's backpack; charged with child neglect, firearm charges

A Florida mother was arrested after deputies say she placed a gun in her child’s backpack, which the student later discovered at school and reported to a teacher.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning at Coppergate Elementary School, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said, as reported by First Coast News.

The campus was placed on “secure status,” allowing classes to continue while restricting entry and exit. Deputies quickly confiscated the weapon and opened an investigation.

Through interviews, investigators learned that the child’s parents live separately. Deputies said the mother, identified as Sierra Bronner, had placed the firearm in the backpack and told the child to return it to their father before school. The father, unaware the gun was in the bag, dropped the child off, where it was later discovered.

Bronner was arrested and charged with child neglect and giving a firearm to a minor. She was booked into the Clay County Jail without incident. The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified and responded.

Sheriff Michelle Cook urged parents to monitor what their children bring to school. “It’s crucial that parents know what their children are bringing to school before they leave home,” Cook said, as quoted by First Coast News. “In this specific case, this was a poor decision and could’ve ended in tragedy.”

The sheriff’s office praised school resource deputies, detectives, and Clay County District Schools for their swift response. Cook noted this was one of two lockdown-related cases addressed during a Wednesday press conference, the other involving a threat made toward Clay High School.