A substitute teacher’s gun was loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition when it fell out of his waistband on the Anona Elementary School playground Tuesday in Largo, according to Pinellas County School Police.
Police said Jesse Jones, 31, was carrying a .9 mm Canik handgun in his waistband around 12:30 p.m.
Jessica Casper, a parent of an 8-year-old 3rd grade student said her daughter was within five feet of Jones when the gun hit the ground.
Casper said Jones was helping the kids do cart wheels and flips when the gun fell.
She said her daughter and other kids froze in shock and then started running.
That’s when Casper’s daughter said Jones asked the kids not to say anything.
The student said teachers immediately cleared the playground. District officials said Jones cooperated and was quickly taken into custody.
Jones was arrested and charged with bringing a concealed weapon on a school campus.
He is now out of jail after being held on a $5,000 bond.
