Parkland Teacher Arrested After Leaving Loaded Gun in a Public Bathroom
LatestMarjory Stoneman Douglas chemistry teacher Sean Simpson was arrested after leaving his loaded gun in a restroom at Deerfield Beach Pier on Sunday. Police say the gun was found by a drunk person, who fired a bullet before Simpson could wrestle it away from him.
The Miami Herald reports that no one was hurt in the incident, which sounds like a freaking miracle:
Simpson told deputies he’d left his gun by accident. By the time the chemistry teacher realized his mistake, the Glock was already in the hands of a drunk homeless man who had picked it up and fired. The bullet hit a wall.
Simpson was able to grab the gun away from the vagrant, Joseph Spataro, who was charged with firing a weapon while intoxicated and trespassing.
Simpson has a concealed weapons permit, according to CBS News. He was charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for “failing to safely store a firearm,” and posted a $250 bond. The incident is particularly notable because Simpson has reportedly said in the past that he would be willing to carry a gun on campus as a safety measure. It’s not like a teacher would ever be forgetful at work.
On Wednesday, Broward County Public Schools, which includes MSD, officially voted against arming teachers.