School hallway - File Photo by Dreamstime

PASADENA, MD – A classroom at Freetown Elementary School turned into a scene of chaos Monday morning after a student accidentally discharged a firearm, injuring his own hand while surrounded by classmates.

Anne Arundel County Police confirmed that the incident occurred during school hours and was the result of an accidental discharge. The child, whose age was not immediately released, was the only person injured in the incident. Several other students were in the classroom at the time but were not harmed.

Emergency units rushed to the school after reports of the gunfire. Officers quickly secured the scene and recovered the weapon. The injured student was treated at the scene before being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

A police public information officer arrived shortly after to coordinate with media and school officials. The department established a staging area for reporters at Addison Drive and Freetown Road while investigators began piecing together how the firearm entered the school.

Authorities have not released details regarding how the student obtained the gun or whether charges will be filed. The investigation is ongoing.

Key points:

Student accidentally discharged a firearm inside Freetown Elementary classroom.
The child suffered a hand injury; no other students were hurt.
Police investigating how the firearm entered the school.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.