Child takes bullet to Reading school

A 6-year-old boy in Boston's Metco program took a bullet to JW Killam Elementary School in Reading, where he is a first-grader, according to two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the case.

The child's teacher took the bullet from the boy, who later said he found it in his living room, one of the officials said. The officials asked for anonymity because they are not authorized to speak about the case to the media.

Reading's police chief, James W. Cormier, confirmed that officials from the school called the department at about 8:30 a.m. Monday about the bullet.

"Nobody was ever in any danger," he said. "We've resolved the matter at this point."

Patrick Schettini, superintendent of Reading Public Schools, said officials are "working with the family on all the situations regarding the school issue."

He said that the child has been with the school "a short while" and that there have been no disciplinary problems with him.

It was not known yesterday whether the boy, whom the officials said was not guilty of a crime, would be allowed to remain at the school.

Jean McGuire, executive director of Metco in Boston, said the program's Reading director met with the child's parents at the Boston offices Monday.

She declined to comment further.

Elaine Driscoll, spokeswoman for Boston police, said the department was contacted by Reading after police there learned that the child lives in Boston.

Driscoll said police have not recovered a gun tied to the bullet.

She said the state's Department of Children and Families is investigating.

Alison Goodwin, the agency's spokeswoman, said she could not immediately confirm whether the department had received a report about the boy's family.