The School District of Philadelphia is responding to claims by a South Philadelphia 5th grader and her mother that her elementary school went too far in reprimanding her for bringing a paper gun to school.
Fernando Gallard, a spokesman for the district, told FOX29 an internal investigation showed Melody Valentin of Newlin Fell Elementary School told classmates she had a handgun on her.
He said the school then acted swiftly and appropriately by questioning the girl and later searching her belongings as some classmates watched.
The school district's response comes several days after FOX29 broke the story which has since made national headlines.
Meanwhile Melody and her mother Dianna Kelly deny she ever used the word "handgun."
Kelly said her daughter realized she had the paper gun on her, put it on her desk and prepared to throw it away when another classmate saw it and contacted school administrators.
She said Melody got the piece of paper folded into a gun from her grandfather, a marine specializing in firearms, the day before and forgot about it.
Kelly told FOX29 Melody has been distraught by constant teasing of students after an administrator yelled at her and had her searched during the incident.
She has since kept her daughter out of class to avoid harassment.
Gallard stressed the district acted within its guidelines in responding to the situation, and pointed to another case where a handgun was recently found in a backpack at another school.
Kelly maintained her view Friday that the school district went too far and said she will now have Melody home schooled.
Monday, May 13 2013 1:53 PM EDT2013-05-13 17:53:44 GMT
Mother's Day just wasn't the same for Olga Ortiz of Newark, NJ. She said her daughter Melissa Rodriguez of Collingdale, would have spent the holiday weekend with family up there, but has not been seen
Police consider rebooting investigation of missing Delco mother as her mother marks Mother's Day without her.
Sunday, April 7 2013 5:32 PM EDT2013-04-07 21:32:07 GMT
A Philadelphia firefighter from Ladder 27 died fighting a three-alarm blaze Saturday night in the city's Queen Village neighborhood. A second firefighter was injured.
A Philadelphia firefighter from Ladder 27 died fighting a three-alarm blaze Saturday night in the city's Queen Village neighborhood. A second firefighter was injured.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:01 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:01:25 GMT
Police sources say the two incidents now under investigation took place at Houston Hall, a student center and lecture hall, on Spruce Street in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Police sources say the two incidents now under investigation took place at Houston Hall, a student center and lecture hall, on Spruce Street in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:02 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:02:17 GMT
The death penalty could be the eventual reality for the drug kingpin convicted of killing 12 people. Kaboni Savage's sentencing hearings began Tuesday. While prosecutors claim that a prison isn't going
Sentencing hearings began Tuesday for drug kingpin Kaboni Savage.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:43 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:43:01 GMT
The Lehigh County District Attorney's office has charged a couple with conspiring to embezzle $854,497 from the utility account of the South Whitehall Finance Department between 1999 and 2012.Nancy Tonkin,
The Lehigh County District Attorney's office has charged a couple with conspiring to embezzle $854,497 from the utility account of the South Whitehall Finance Department between 1999 and 2012.Nancy Tonkin,
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:38 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:38:51 GMT
Police in Lancaster County are searching for two suspects after a woman called 911 from the trunk of a car to report that she had been abducted by strangers.
Police in Lancaster County are searching for two suspects after a woman called 911 from the trunk of a car to report that she had been abducted by strangers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:33:17 GMT
Brides are eager to take the last name of their husband after they tie the knot. Recent studies show that only 18% of women are interested in keeping their maiden names- which is down from a record high
More women are going retro when it comes to their last names after they marry, and taking their husband's surname.
