A pistol brought to Ross Elementary School by a 6-year-old kindergarten student fell to the cafeteria floor and discharged today, slightly injuring three children, a Houston school district spokesman said.
The injuries were not considered life-threatening, spokesman Jason Spencer said. The incident occurred about 10:22 a.m in the school at 2819 Bay, he said..
The boy who brought the gun was wounded in the foot, another 6-year-old boy was wounded in the leg and a 5-year-old girl was wounded in the foot when the gun fell out of the boy's pocket, Spencer said.
The students were either hit by a single bullet and/or fragments. The children were taken to Texas Children's Hospital and their parents notified, officials said. Police were investigating how the child obtained the gun.
Television footage showed at least three students being removed on stretchers.
"I think a kid brought a gun to school, and it accidentally went off," said HISD Trustee Carol Mims Galloway, who represents the campus. "I think some kids might have gotten slightly injured."
Jarneshia Broussard, 5, said she was sitting at the same cateteria table as the boy who brought the gun. She was eating a hot dog and beans when she heard a loud noise, she said.
She first thought a light had gone out but then realized this was more serious.
"I knew it was a gun because a gun goes 'pow,' " Jarneshia said. "I got really scared."
The sound of the shots caused a great commotion in the cafeteria, Jarneshia said, and she and other children began to cry. She said she moved to another table and saw the gun lying on the floor.
HISD officials didn't close the school but allowed parents to pick up their children if they chose. Among those who arrived was Jarneshia's grandmother, Moneek Burleson.
"This is a problem," Burleson said with tears in her eyes as she clutched her granddaughter's hand. "This is a serious problem and it needs to stop."
Reporter Ericka Mellon contributed to this story.