Man charged in connection to loaded gun found in 6-year-old Orange Elementary student’s backpack

ORANGE COUNTY, Va. ( DC News Now ) — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) said a man is facing several charges after a loaded gun was found inside a 6-year-old elementary student’s backpack.

On Sept. 16, an Orange Elementary School staff member contacted the Sheriff’s Office about a loaded gun that was found on campus. The Sheriff’s Office said the gun was discovered inside the student’s backpack.

As the investigation developed, deputies learned that the student never intended to use the gun. Investigators also believed that the student didn’t know the gun had been stashed in his bag.

After working closely with the school district, Virginia State Police, Department of Social Services, the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and several agencies, 31-year-old Drakar L. Rawlings, of Orange, was arrested.

Rawlings was charged with Allowing access to firearms by children, Abuse and neglect of children and two counts of Possession or transportation of firearms, firearms ammunition, stun weapons, explosives or concealed weapons by convicted felons.

He was being held at the Central Virginia Regional Jail without bond.

“This case has been a very convoluted and complicated one involving many challenges that required many hours of investigation and effort by numerous members of the Orange Sheriff’s Office but particularly the investigations section,” said the Sheriff’s Office in a release.

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