Parent with hid weapon unintentionally shoots self while at Arlington ISD school, police say

Arlington police mentioned Duff Elementary School was placed on lockdown for a time Thursday after a guardian with a concealed weapon had his gun by chance go off, hitting the guardian within the leg.

ARLINGTON, Texas - Arlington police stated Duff Elementary School was positioned on lockdown for a time Thursday after a father or mother with a concealed weapon had his gun by accident go off, hitting the guardian in the leg.

The varsity had early launch and students have been launched on the planned time of 12:10 p.m.

In response to police, the parent, recognized as 55-year-old Anthony White, dropped his gun and by accident shot himself. His damage was not serious.

The college district said White was contained in the building, close to the foyer area, and never in the hallway close to students when the gun went off.

Police and school officers stated there was no menace made and the dad or mum did not have "malicious intent."

READ MORE: 2 North Texas students arrested in separate school gun scares

No students or staff have been injured. The dad or mum was taken to an space hospital after being shot in the leg. 

Arlington Police Chief Al Jones mentioned after White was released from the hospital, he was arrested and charged with illegal carrying of a weapon in prohibited locations and discharge of a firearm in sure municipalities.

Within the two days since the Uvalde mass school taking pictures, there have been 5 instances in North Texas related to guns introduced to varsities or threats made.

RELATED: Suspect arrested after risk made in opposition to Weatherford elementary college, district says

Arlington parents stated their minds instantly considered the worst once they were notified.

No mum or dad ever desires there to be a motive for them to get a textual content message saying their kid's faculty is on lockdown.

But since this week's lethal taking pictures at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, they can not assist however think the worst after they do.

"After I obtained the text message, I was like, ‘Oh my God, one thing is going to happen.’ I was shocked," father or mother Karima Rasheed mentioned.

Whereas most times, lockdowns are solely drills students have to participate in, Rasheed's son, Rami, stated that understanding what happened earlier this week made this lockdown different. 

"I started seeing my classmates starting to cry and our instructor obtained a notification on their cellphone saying somebody was in the constructing," he mentioned.

Weapons are usually not allowed on faculty property, and fogeys FOX 4 spoke with mentioned even when it was a mistake, the timing is simply horrible.

"What are we going to do? They must go to highschool, and obviously, statistically, it's unlikely to occur, but you never wish to be the one statistic. What if it is your kids?" Matthew Mitchell mentioned.

Mitchell lives across the street from Duff Elementary. His daughters go to another Arlington school. 

"I’m terrified, completely terrified. I’ve acquired twin six-year-olds that go to a unique Arlington college and each time I hear there is a lockdown or a school taking pictures, my heart jumps into my throat," he stated.

Rasheed mentioned Thursday was the graduation day for 6th grade students at Duff Elementary.

Whereas driving her son to highschool within the morning, she had a chat with him about Uvalde and what to do if something ever occurred at his college.

"If one thing occurred, you’ve got to run anywhere that’s secure and conceal," she instructed her little one.

Whereas some say the incident in Uvalde is simply too contemporary to talk politics, Mitchell said something needs to be executed now. 

"They wish to speak about it, they need to campaign on it, they wish to fundraiser on it, but they don’t wish to actually go any laws and do anything," he added.