A 9-year-old boy brought a loaded 9 mm handgun in his bookbag to Central Manor Elementary School on Monday morning, police and school officials said.

Other children notified a teacher, who notified Principal Deborah Holt, Penn Manor School District Superintendent Donald F. Stewart said.

Holt had taken possession of the bookbag with the weapon inside it by 9:10 a.m., 10 minutes after the start of school, Stewart said.

The third-grader apparently wanted to show the gun to friends at recess, Stewart said. The child told school officials he thought it was a BB gun, Stewart and police said.

Manor Township police Cpl. Gary Strock happened to be at the Washington Boro school to conduct a D.A.R.E. anti-drug presentation, township police Sgt. Carolyn Gundel said. He took custody of the weapon and bookbag, Stewart said.

The boy's parents were called, and the boy was questioned in the school office with them present, Stewart said. He then was taken to township police headquarters and transferred to the custody of county Children & Youth, Gundel said.

It was not immediately clear Monday evening if the boy had been returned to his parents, but Gundel said he most likely remained with Children & Youth caregivers.

Officer Troy Rogers is leading the investigation, which is ongoing, Gundel said.

The student showed the gun to one acquaintance at his bus stop and to another friend on the bus, but he did not take it out of the bookbag at school, Stewart said.

There was nothing unusual in the boy's disciplinary record and "no indication" the child had the gun for any reason except to show it off, the principal said.

"We are saddened and distressed that a 9-year-old can gain access to a weapon," he said.

It was not immediately clear Monday night where the child got the gun.

The school district prepared a letter about the incident and sent it home Monday with all students in kindergarten through grade 12, Stewart said. The letter is posted on the district's Web site, www.pennmanor.net.

Stewart declined to say what action the district would take regarding the incident. He said the district would wait for the investigation to resolve several issues before making a decision.

Police are consulting with the county district attorney's office about whether charges are appropriate, given the boy's age, Gundel said.

Stewart referred inquiries regarding policy to the district manual posted on its Web site.

According to Section 218.1 of the manual, all weapons are prohibited on school grounds, at school activities and on vehicles providing school transportation. Students who violate the policy are to be expelled for at least one year, the manual says.

"The superintendent may recommend modifications of such expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis," the policy reads.

Stewart emphasized the district's commitment to student safety and urged parents to be responsible as well.

"If you're a parent and you have weapons, you need to make sure that your kids can't get access to them," he said.

Stewart planned to be at the school this morning to speak with parents and the media.

E-mail: tstuhldreher@lnpnews.com