A road rage incident involving a gun near Magnolia Park Elementary School led to a brief lockdown, but police determined no students were in danger and the parent responsible will not face charges.
At a Glance
- Magnolia Park Elementary School in Ocean Springs, MS went into a brief lockdown after a parent was seen displaying a gun near campus
- The incident stemmed from a road rage confrontation on Government Street before the parent entered the school pickup line
- The lockdown lasted only five minutes with no students in danger
- Police found a weapon in the parent’s vehicle but confirmed no threats were made on school grounds
- No charges will be filed as the gun was not raised on school property
Road Rage Incident Prompts Swift School Response
Ocean Springs Police responded to Magnolia Park Elementary School after reports of a woman displaying a firearm near the campus on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 3:00 PM when the woman was seen with a gun along Government Street before pulling into the school car line for student pickup. School officials immediately implemented safety protocols, placing the building under lockdown to ensure student safety while police assessed the situation.
According to local authorities, the parent had been involved in a road rage confrontation with another driver while en route to the school. During this altercation, the parent allegedly pointed a firearm at the other vehicle. Upon arrival at Magnolia Park Elementary, the woman entered the car pickup line where staff members, alerted to the potential threat, took immediate action to protect students and personnel on campus.
Police Investigation Finds No On-Campus Threat
Ocean Springs Police quickly responded to the scene, securing the area and investigating the circumstances of the incident. Officers located a firearm in the parent’s vehicle but determined that while the weapon had been displayed during the earlier road rage incident, it was not brandished on school property. This distinction proved significant in the subsequent handling of the case by law enforcement.
The school lockdown lasted approximately five minutes before police declared the situation under control. Throughout the incident, school administrators maintained clear communication with law enforcement to ensure appropriate safety measures were in place. No injuries were reported, and normal school operations resumed promptly after the lockdown was lifted, allowing for the standard dismissal procedure to continue.
Legal Implications and Response
Despite the severity of displaying a firearm near a school, police determined that charges would not be filed against the parent. Mississippi law prohibits carrying weapons on school property, but includes exceptions when firearms remain secured in vehicles. Since the parent did not display the weapon on school grounds, this legal technicality affected the charging decision.
According to the Ocean Springs Police Chief Steven Dye: “the parent who reportedly waved the gun will not be charged because she did not raise the weapon on the school grounds.”
The Ocean Springs Police Department continues to investigate the incident, seeking additional information about the road rage confrontation that occurred prior to the parent’s arrival at school. While no charges have been filed at this time, authorities are following standard procedures for incidents involving firearms near educational facilities. The quick response by both school staff and law enforcement demonstrated the effectiveness of established safety protocols.
