Child with toy gun prompts lockdowns, searches at two elementary schools

Eighteen law enforcement officers searched two southwestern Idaho elementary schools for nearly two hours Tuesday morning after a second-grade student brought a toy gun to class, the AP reports. Canyon County Sheriff’s spokesman Joe Decker said teachers called officers after a young student reported that another child riding the bus had what looked like a handgun. The bus had carried students to two Middleton elementary schools, and so both were placed on lockdown while officers searched for a weapon. Sheriff’s Captain Dana Maxfield said the toy was found about two hours later in the possession of a boy who was around 8 years old, and who may have simply wanted to show his friends. Maxfield said that was a dangerous move, however, because the black-and-brown toy looked real except for a bright orange cap. Maxfield said school officials planned to talk to the child’s parents.