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Second Grader Brings Inactive Stun Gun Into Hamilton Heights School: City

By Ben Fractenberg | January 27, 2017 4:15pm
 A 7-year-old student brought a non-working stun gun into a Hamilton Heights public school Friday, officials said.
A 7-year-old student brought a non-working stun gun into a Hamilton Heights public school Friday, officials said.
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MANHATTAN — A 7-year-old student brought an inert stun gun into a Hamilton Heights public school Friday, according to officials.

School workers discovered the weapon inside P.S. 153 on Amsterdam Avenue Friday, according to the Department of Education and the union that represents school safety agents.

“The safety of students and staff is our top priority,” said Department of Education spokeswoman Toya Holness in a statement. 

“The NYPD immediately responded and safely recovered the non-functioning stun gun. We are providing the school with additional supports and will ensure appropriate follow-up action is taken.”

It was not immediately clear who found the stun gun and whether the student was disciplined in any way. 

Hank Sheinkopf, a spokesman for Teamsters Local 237, which represents the safety agents, said that even though the stun gun didn’t work it showed the need for metal detectors at schools.

“Why does a 7-year-old child bring a gun to school?” Sheinkopf asked rhetorically. “And why would anyone knowing that want to take scanners out of schools?”