How a handgun ended up in a preschooler’s backpack at a Macomb County Head Start program

A handgun was discovered in a preschooler’s backpack at Schwarzkoff Elementary in Sterling Heights, where the child is enrolled in the county’s Head Start program. The teacher noticed the unusual weight of the bag, followed protocol by alerting staff and police, and authorities determined the child was unaware of the weapon, which belonged to a parent. Police emphasized there was no ill intent and that the incident is under thorough investigation, with accountability stressed for proper gun ownership. The Head Start program operates at the school but is not affiliated with the district.