UPDATE 2/9/2026: A 34-year-old Pasadena man faces a misdemeanor charge after a 7-year-old boy brought a loaded handgun from their shared residence to Freetown Elementary School in Glen Burnie, where it accidentally discharged and injured the child’s hand.
Northern District Detectives with the Anne Arundel County Police Department concluded their investigation and determined the weapon came from the child’s home. On February 4, 2026, they applied for charges through a court commissioner, who issued a criminal summons for Eashan John Stefanski under Maryland Criminal Law Article CR 4-104: leaving a loaded firearm accessible to a minor.
Officers served the summons to Stefanski on the morning of February 5, 2026.
The incident unfolded February 4, 2026, at approximately 8:25 a.m., when officers responded to reports of a gunshot inside the school at 7904 Freetown Road. School officials reported that a student had brought a handgun to class. The 7-year-old second-grader accidentally discharged the firearm inside the classroom, injuring his hand in a non-life-threatening manner. A teacher quickly secured the weapon, provided aid, and alerted administrators, who contacted police.
Other students and the teacher were present in the classroom during the discharge, but no one else was harmed. Once secured, the weapon posed no further threat. The injured boy received treatment at Baltimore Shock Trauma.
The gun, a Glock 27, was registered to Stefanski, who is the live-in boyfriend of the child’s mother. The child lives in the Pasadena home with his mother, siblings, and Stefanski. Charging documents indicate Stefanski keeps several firearms in his bedroom, and investigators determined the handgun had not been properly secured, making it accessible to the minor.
This misdemeanor charge carries no jail time upon conviction but allows for a fine of up to $1,000.
Stefanski, an active Staff Sergeant assigned to the U.S. Army Baltimore Recruiting Battalion, has been suspended from his recruiting duties pending the outcome of the investigation, according to a U.S. Army Recruiting Division spokesperson.
The case highlights risks associated with unsecured firearms in households with children, particularly in Anne Arundel County, where school safety remains a priority following the incident.
Glen Burnie, Maryland – A second-grade student at Freetown Elementary School suffered a non-life-threatening hand injury Wednesday morning when a handgun he brought to class accidentally discharged inside the classroom, prompting a swift response from school staff and police.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:25 a.m. on February 4, 2026, at the school located at 7904 Freetown Road in Glen Burnie, Anne Arundel County. Officers from the Anne Arundel County Police Department arrived after reports of a gunshot being fired inside the building. School officials informed responding officers that a student had brought a handgun to school. The weapon was discharged in the classroom, injuring the student who possessed it. The teacher immediately secured the firearm, provided aid to the injured child, and alerted administrators, who then contacted police.
Multiple other students were present in the classroom during the discharge, but none sustained injuries. Authorities confirmed no ongoing threat to student safety once the weapon was secured. Emergency responders transported the injured second-grader—described in reports as a 7-year-old—to a hospital, with initial assessments indicating the injury affected his hand from the accidental discharge. He was taken to an area facility, including reports of transport to Shock Trauma, for treatment of the non-life-threatening wound.
Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad addressed the gravity of the event, noting the need to understand how a young child accessed and transported a firearm to school. Preliminary investigation indicates the child obtained the handgun from his residence. Detectives from the Northern District continue to examine the circumstances, including how the weapon was accessed and brought into the school environment.
The school initiated an early dismissal around 11:15 a.m., with bus riders transported on normal routes and provisions for alternate pickups. Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell acknowledged the trauma experienced by students, faculty, and staff, emphasizing that the building would reopen as scheduled the following day. Support services remain available, including resources from Anne Arundel County Crisis Response via the Warm Line at 410-768-5522, alongside additional on-site student assistance.
Police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact Northern District detectives at 410-222-6135. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Anne Arundel County Police Tip Line at 410-222-4700.
As part of broader prevention efforts, the Anne Arundel County Health Department’s Gun Violence Intervention Team partners with local libraries and community organizations to provide free gun locks to county residents aged 18 and older. The program aims to enhance firearm security, prevent unintentional injuries, and reduce risks of gun-related suicides and homicides. Residents can obtain up to two cable locks per visit—no library card or proof of residency required—at any Anne Arundel County library branch. Each packet includes a gun cable lock, two keys, and instructional materials. Additional distribution occurs through NO HARM VIP in Annapolis and Man Up Anne Arundel in Severn. Details are available at www.aahealth.org/gun-violence-intervention-team/active-projects/free-gun-locks.
This event highlights ongoing concerns about secure firearm storage in homes, particularly in households with children, amid efforts to promote safety measures in Anne Arundel County communities.