Florida mom Sierra Bronner, 39, has been charged with two felonies after she allegedly sent her child to elementary school with a gun in the youngster’s backpack. On August 13, 2025, a student at Coppergate Elementary School in Middleburg, Florida, discovered a gun in their bag, according to a Clay County Sheriff’s Office news release shared on Facebook. The student “told their teacher, who immediately informed supervisors” and the sheriff’s office.
The school was placed under a “secure status,” meaning teachers could “continue instructing while preventing anyone to leave or enter school grounds,” according to the news release. Additionally, the sheriff’s office shared a Facebook post noting that “all children are safe,” People reported. Sheriff’s deputies confiscated the gun and began an investigation.
“Through investigative techniques and interviews, we discovered the child’s parents don’t live together; the mother placed the gun in the backpack and told the young child to return the firearm to their father before they left for school,” the sheriff’s office detailed in the news release.
Reportedly, the child’s father didn’t know about mother’s attempt to return the weapon. “The child was taken to Coppergate Elementary by their father, who was unaware the gun was in the backpack. Therefore, the firearm ended up on school grounds,” the release continued.
Bronner was arrested and charged with child neglect and giving a firearm to a minor, both of which are felonies, according to arrest records, per People. The Florida Department of Children and Families also was contacted.
“It’s crucial that parents know what their children are bringing to school before they leave home. Look in their backpacks, ask questions and have conversations on what’s appropriate to bring to school,” Sheriff Michelle Cook shared in the news release posted to Facebook. “In this specific case, this was a poor decision and could’ve ended in tragedy.”
Cook continued, “I’m grateful for our partnership with Clay County District Schools and applaud our school resource deputies and detectives for their work to keep our students safe.”
