Police investigating after gun found in preschooler's backpack at Phoenix elementary school

Police were investigating an incident at a Phoenix elementary school on Monday after a gun was found in a preschool child's backpack.

According to police, just after 1 p.m., officers responded to Kyrene de la Estrella Elementary School regarding the incident.

Police said that school administrators found the firearm and secured it prior to their arrival.

"A teacher found the weapon while helping the student unpack the backpack, and we immediately moved it to a safe location and contacted Phoenix Police. It has been determined that the weapon was placed in the pack by mistake, and there was no intent to harm anyone or to threaten the school," Principal Jessey Johnson said in a statement sent out to families.

According to an update sent out on Tuesday, the Kyrene Emergency Management Team said that following the discovery, "the adult realized what had happened and contacted the school to self-report it" and that the family is cooperating with police.

Johnson added in the statement that the school district is working with police and will conduct its own investigation, stating that the campus is safe.

"At no time was there a suspected threat to the campus, and because it was handled so quickly, a lockdown was not necessary," the Kyrene Emergency Management Team said on Tuesday.

Once at the scene, police collected the gun and began the investigation.

Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Robert Scherer told The Arizona Republic that no arrests had been made in connection to the incident and following the investigations' conclusion, it will be submitted to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for consideration on appropriate charges.

"The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. Kyrene School District provides a safe environment for teaching and learning through continual training, secure facilities, and a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan. To read more about the District’s safety and security efforts, visit www.kyrene.org/safe," Johnson said in the statement.

No other information had been released.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Gun found in preschooler's backpack at school, police investigating