Unloaded Gun Found at Orcutt Elementary Triggers Sheriff's Investigation

Overview

• Deputies recovered an unloaded firearm at Pine Grove Elementary in Orcutt after a student reported seeing the weapon to school staff, and no ammunition was found.
• Following school protocol, a teacher alerted the principal, who secured the backpack and brought the student to the office, containing the situation in about ten minutes.
• The Sheriff's Office said there was no sign the student intended to use the gun, and noted it could not be fired without ammunition.
• Investigators booked the weapon for safekeeping and are looking into who owns it and whether it was stored responsibly, while the district handles discipline under California’s Education Code.
• The district brought in extra counselors as parents expressed fear, and officials praised the reporting student as a clear example of the value of speaking up.