The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is calling on parents and guardians to be more vigilant in checking the items that their children take to school.

The call follows Monday’s incident at the Ocho Rios High School in St. Ann in which a female student was shot in the leg after a gun brought to school by another student, went off.

Chief Executive Officer of the CPFSA Laurette Adams-Thomas laments that the incident was very traumatic for the 12-year-old student who was shot. She says, fortunately, the student only sustained a flesh wound to her thigh.

Following the incident police seized the weapon and took the male student involved into custody. Investigations are being conducted to determine how the gun got into the boy’s possession.

Meantime, counselling has been arranged for the teen girl and members of her family.

Mrs. Adams-Thomas stresses that parents have a responsibility to ensure their children do not pack dangerous or inappropriate items in their school bags.