Kent Elementary Student Warned Adults About Loaded Gun Before Incident

Mother says son tried to alert two staff members before teacher reported weapon to principal

Apr. 16, 2026 at 4:38am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single bullet casing on a dark background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the dangerous weapon that was brought into the school.A single bullet casing, starkly illuminated, serves as a chilling reminder of the threat that entered a Kent elementary school.Kent Today

A 9-year-old student at Longcoy Elementary School in Kent, Ohio tried to warn two adults about a loaded 9mm handgun on the playground before the weapon was eventually reported to the principal, who then called the police. However, the Kent Police Department says they have been unable to corroborate the student's account, leading to conflicting reports about who knew what and when.

Why it matters

The incident has raised concerns about school safety protocols and the need for comprehensive training of all school staff, not just teachers, on how to respond to potential threats. It also highlights the importance of clear communication and accountability when it comes to reporting dangerous situations to authorities.

The details

According to the student's mother, Sarah Wesley, who serves on the Kent City Council, her 9-year-old son first approached an unidentified adult male, possibly a substitute teacher or contractor, and told him about seeing a classmate with a gun on the playground. The man acknowledged the report but took no action. The student then found a staff member he knew who was monitoring the cafeteria, but that adult also failed to act. It wasn't until the student returned to his classroom and reported the gun to his teacher that the principal, Heidi Singer, called the Kent Police Department.

  • On April 2, the incident occurred at Longcoy Elementary School in Kent, Ohio.
  • The Kent Police Department responded quickly after the teacher's report and confiscated the loaded 9mm handgun from the 8-year-old student's backpack.

The players

Sarah Wesley

The mother of the 9-year-old student who tried to report the gun, and a member of the Kent City Council.

Heidi Singer

The principal of Longcoy Elementary School who called the Kent Police Department after being informed about the gun.

Tom Larkin

The superintendent of Kent City Schools, who defended the principal's response and said the district's investigation did not corroborate the student's account of warning other adults.

Gloria Luster

The 34-year-old mother of the 8-year-old student who brought the loaded 9mm handgun to school, and who has been charged with endangering children.

Lt. Mike Lewis

The administrative lieutenant for the Kent Police Department, who acknowledged the case has come down to conflicting accounts between the student and the staff member he allegedly warned.

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What they’re saying

“A 9-year-old boy trying to go to a grownup for help — not one grownup, but two grownups — and continuing to try to get help is why we need change.”

— Sarah Wesley, Kent City Council member

“We have not been able to substantiate that any reports were neglected, overlooked, or unreasonably delayed.”

— Lt. Mike Lewis, Administrative lieutenant, Kent Police Department

“Calling the police and saying that you have a significant discipline issue could mean a million different things. Saying that you have a student who had a gun sends a whole other message to the seriousness of the incident for law enforcement.”

— Ken Trump, President, National School Safety & Security Services

What’s next

The Kent Police Department's investigation into the incident remains open as they try to determine who knew what and when. Gloria Luster, the mother of the 8-year-old student who brought the gun to school, faces a pending criminal case on a child endangering charge.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for comprehensive training of all school staff, not just teachers, on how to respond to potential threats, as well as the importance of clear communication and accountability when it comes to reporting dangerous situations to authorities. The conflicting accounts between the student and school staff raise concerns about the school's safety protocols and the district's commitment to transparency.