Police siren on top of a car

Police car (stock image).Credit : Getty Images/iStockphoto

NEED TO KNOW

An 8-year-old student in Ohio brought a loaded gun to school on April 2
Police responded to the school after a student reported seeing a gun tucked in a second grader’s waistband during recess
The child’s mother has been arrested and charged with child endangerment

An Ohio mother has been charged after her 8-year-old child brought a loaded gun to school.

The Kent Police Department (KPD) said they responded to a call from staff at Longcoy Elementary School in Kent at around 12:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 2, per Cleveland.com, WKYC and the Akron Beacon Journal. A student had told a teacher that they saw a gun tucked into a second grader’s waistband during recess.

Staff subsequently located a loaded 9mm handgun in the student’s backpack and secured the weapon. No injuries were reported.

The KPD said, per the outlets, that an investigation determined that the 8-year-old easily had access to the gun at home “and intentionally brought the weapon to school for purposes still unknown.”

The child’s mother, 34-year-old Gloria Luster, was arrested and charged with child endangerment, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to the KPD.

Longcoy Elementary School in Kent, Ohio

Longcoy Elementary School in Kent, Ohio.google maps

The investigation remains ongoing. PEOPLE reached out to the Kent Police Department for more information.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.    

The department praised the classmate for alerting a teacher about the gun.

“Kent Police are grateful to the young student who was brave enough to tell a teacher what they had seen, and proud of Longcoy Elementary staff for their quick thinking and swift action,” the KPD said in a statement, per WKYC.

“Parents are reminded to safely secure all weapons and ammunition, and encourage kids that if they ‘See something, say something,’ ” the statement continued.

Kent City School District Superintendent Tom Larkin sent a recorded phone message about the incident to the school community.

“A student brought a handgun to school. I want to reassure you that all students and staff are safe,” Larkin said in the message, per WKYC. “The weapon was quickly secured and turned over to the Kent Police Department.”

He continued: “The situation was reported by a student to a teacher after recess. Staff immediately notified the school office, and appropriate safety procedures were followed. Kent Police responded promptly and have taken possession of the weapon. They are continuing their investigation in coordination with school administrators.”

The superintendent said that Longcoy’s principal also began an internal investigation, which is ongoing. “Due to the involvement of a minor, privacy laws, and the ongoing investigation, we are unable to share additional details at this time,” Larkin added.