Ohio Shocker: 8-year-old with loaded gun sparks panic at school, student alerts teacher; here’s what happened next

A bizarre incident emerged in Ohio where a mother was charged after her 8-year-old child brought a loaded gun to school. Kent police were called to Longcoy Elementary School on April 2, 2026, after staff reportedly discovered a loaded 9 mm handgun in the student's backpack, according to Cleveland, WKYC, and the Akron Beacon Journal.

A classmate noticed the firearm tucked inside the student's waistband during recess and told a teacher, NBC-affiliated television station in Cleveland WKYC reported, citing a release from the police department. School staff found a loaded 9mm handgun in the student's backpack and secured the weapon. No injuries were reported.

The Kent Police Department (KPD) said they responded to a call from staff at Longcoy Elementary School in Kent at around 12:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 2, according to reports.


According to multiple local media outlets, the KPD said that following an investigation, it was determined that the 8-year-old easily had access to the gun at home "and intentionally brought the weapon to school for purposes still unknown."

Mother arrested

Gloria Luster, the child's mother, 34 years old, was arrested and charged with child endangerment, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to the KPD. The investigation remains ongoing. PEOPLE reached out to the Kent Police Department for more information.

The police department praised the classmate for raising a timely alert to a teacher about the gun. "Kent Police are grateful to the young student who was brave enough to tell a teacher what they had seen and proud of Longcoy Elementary staff for their quick thinking and swift action," the KPD said in a statement, as quoted by WKYC.

"Parents are reminded to safely secure all weapons and ammunition and encourage kids that if they 'see something, say something,' " the statement continued.