PROSPECT BOROUGH (KDKA) — State police say a 10-year-old boy, who is accused of bringing a pellet gun to his elementary school in Butler County, has now been charged as a juvenile.

According to state police, the fifth grader allegedly brought the airsoft pistol to Moraine Elementary School in Prospect Borough on Thursday and showed it to another student.

Investigators say the boy is also accused of making “threats upon the school,” but did not threaten any teachers or other students directly.

He has been charged as a juvenile with making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.

People in Prospect had mix reactions to the incident.

“I know the reason that they take everything so seriously,” said Debbi Ruth, a resident of Prospect, “but I really think things should be handled on a case by case basis, not like this big, broad blanket thing and it really bothers… I mean, 10-years-old?”

Authorities say the boy was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation. Also, state police said at no time were students or school staff harmed.

The parent of a Moraine student complained that she was not notified promptly about the incident by school administrators.

“The parents have every right to know what is going on and that school should have contacted us, whether it be phone calls or a letter, cause it could have been a real gun, the next time, and he could have done anything with that gun,” said parent Lacey Butler.

Late Saturday, KDKA talked to Slippery Rock School District Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Nogay and she refused to comment; but some parents say they plan to go to the school Monday morning to try and get the answers to their questions.

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