Galloway Township police are looking for an Atlantic City man after a first-grader unknowingly brought a gun to school inside a backpack last week.
The 7-year-old did not know the loaded Taurus 9mm handgun was in the backpack and told Atlantic Community Charter School staff as soon as it was discovered, police said Tuesday.
An investigation determined that Lamar Keith Williamson, 33, put the gun in the backpack, police said. He had been staying with child's family in Atlantic City.
Williamson is charged with endangering the welfare of children, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
His whereabouts are not known at this time.
Police said the gun was immediately secured by officers, and the child was brought to the Police Department.
The New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency was called.
The investigation was done with the cooperation of the school, the DCP&P and the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Anyone with information about the case or Williamson's whereabouts is asked to call police at 609- 652-3705, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at 609-909-7800 or Atlantic County Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234.
