NEWTOWN - A teacher at a middle school in Newtown has been arrested after he was found with a gun on campus.
At around 9 a.m. on Wednesday school personnel detained Jason M. Adams, an eighth-grade science teacher at Newtown Middle School, after it was discovered that he was carrying a concealed gun at school. The school had a two-hour delayed opening for staff development, meaning that school wasn't set to start until 9:20 a.m.
Police arrived a short time after Adams was detained and arrested him. Adams, 46, of Newtown, does have a valid Connecticut state pistol permit, but it is a Class D felony to have a gun on school grounds in the state.
Adams was charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds.
The police department contacted the state Licensing and Permit Unit to make it aware of Adams' arrest.
The school says he was placed on leave as an investigation is conducted. Here is a statement from the school district:
This matter is very serious and troubling. Both the Newtown Public School system and the Newtown Police Department took immediate steps to address this matter. The teacher was immediately detained by security personnel. The teacher has additionally been placed on administrative leave pending an administrative investigation. Both agencies have been working closely together to investigate the incident and are taking precautions to ensure the continued safety of our students, staff and community members.
The police department said in its press release about the incident that it is "confident that security precautions put in place prior to the incident were instrumental in the quick and appropriate response to the event. The close working relationship between the school system and law enforcement personnel is essential in resolving incidents of this nature."
Adams was released on his own recognizance and is due in court April 20.
Some parents were truly upset by the news, saying their children admired the instructor.
"My son absolutely loves him and he was a real mentor to my son," said Elizabeth O'Connell of Newtown. "I got emails left and right from the superintendent. I'm devastated I think it was really, really stupid mistake. I obviously don't know his intentions. It's horrible."
Meanwhile, there were some parents who said the situation is concerning to them and they're worried about allowing their children returning to school on Thursday.
"I have some concerns especially after what this town has been through. My daughter was a student at Sandy Hook as well. I live behind the school. I heard the gunshots. We've been impacted and the thought that they let him go during school hours and my daughter was still at school and they expect me to let my daughter go back to school [Thursday] when I have no idea where he is," said Edwina Cusick, whose daughter is in one of Mr. Adams' classes.
The chairman of the Newtown Action Alliance, which has been pushing for stronger gun laws since the Sandy Hook tragedy, tells FOX 61 this situation is hard to understand.
"It's disheartening and shocking that a Newtown teacher would bring a gun to the school. We're still going through the trauma that occurred on December 14 three years ago," said Newtown Action Alliance Chairman Po Murray. "The majority of teachers in our schools are wonderful and they have done such a wonderful job of helping us to heal, so it's disappointing that we're in the spotlight for something negative again."