Madera County Sheriff’s Deputies responded Tuesday morning after a student at Coarsegold Elementary School brought a blank handgun in his backpack.

The item was later identified as an unloaded starter pistol. Authorities said the student accidentally brought the item to school and reported it to his teacher upon realizing it was in his bag.

The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution while deputies responded. The lockdown has since been lifted.

The incident is under investigation, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said.

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