Seventh-grader brings loaded gun to Aurora middle school

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A 13-year-old boy who brought a loaded .357 handgun to his middle school in west suburban Aurora told police he just wanted to show it to his friends.

Now the seventh-grader at Waldo Middle School in Aurora is facing two felony charges and will be held in the Kane County Youth Home until a court hearing on Monday, according to Aurora police.

At about 10 a.m., police were called to the school at 56 Jackson St. after the boy was apparently overheard by another student bragging that he had brought a gun to school, a release from police said.

The student who overheard the conversation notified school administrators, who pulled the boy out of class, then searched his locker and found the gun, the release said.

The boy apparently had no plans to use the gun, was not involved in gang activity, was not being threatened, and did not have any prior contact with police, the release said. 

He told school officials he just wanted to show it off to other students.

Police are still investigating where the gun came from and how the boy got it, the release said.

He was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

The school was placed on lockdown for a short time after the gun was located, but no injuries were reported.