A Maryland mother says the police were called to her house over a BB gun seen in a child’s virtual classroom.
Navy veteran Courtney Lancaster of Baltimore County, Maryland, says her 11-year-old son had a BB gun hanging on the wall in the background while sitting in on his school’s virtual classroom and someone in that classroom reported it to the school, prompting a visit from the police, according to Fox 45 Baltimore.
“I had no idea what to think. I’ve never been in any legal trouble whatsoever. I’ve never had any negative encounter with law enforcement,” Lancaster said about officers showing up to her house on June 1. “I had no idea. I really didn’t know what to think.”
The police told Lancaster that someone in her son’s class, which was being held online because of the coronavirus, reported the gun, and a school administrator later told her that a screenshot made its way to school officials.
“I felt violated as a parent, for my child, who’s standing there with police officers in his room, just to see the fear on his face,” she said.
The school reportedly refused to let Lancaster see the screenshot that was taken and issued a statement saying the safety of students was their top concern.
“Our longstanding policy is to not debate individual circumstances through the media,” the statement said. “There are multiple ways for families to share concerns with us. In general terms, the safety of students and staff is our chief concern, whether we are meeting in classrooms or via continuity of learning.”
“So, what are the parameters?” Lancaster asked. “Where are the lines drawn? If my son is sitting at the kitchen island next to a butcher block, does that constitute a weapon? It’s not allowed at school, right? So, would my home then be searched because he’s sitting next to a butcher block? I feel like parents need to be made aware of what the implications are, what the expectations are.”
