ORANGE COUNTY, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – An Orange County man faces charges in the wake of a 6-year-old student at Orange Elementary School entering the building with a loaded firearm in their backpack.

The gun was found inside when someone helped the child unpack their backpack, at which time it was immediately seized and an investigation launched.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office says the child did not know a firearm had been stashed inside the backpack.

Drakar L. Rawlings, age 31, of Orange, Virginia has been charged in connection to this event. He is charged with one count of allowing access to firearms by children, one count of abuse and neglect of children, and two counts of possession or transportation of firearms, firearms ammunition, stun weapons, explosives or concealed weapons by convicted felons.

The full statement from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is found below.

On September 16, 2024, the Orange Sheriff’s Office was contacted by school staff of Orange Elementary School and notified that a loaded firearm was found on campus.  

The firearm was seized and made safe and an investigation into how it got on campus began.  

The loaded firearm was found in the backpack of a 6-year-old student at Orange Elementary School.  The investigation into this event began the second the firearm was found.  

It is believed that the student never intended to use the firearm, in fact, we believe that the student did not even know the firearm had been stashed in the backpack and was unaware of its existence.

This case has been a very convoluted and complicated one involving many challenges that required many hours of investigation and effort by numerous members of the Orange Sheriff’s Office but particularly the investigations section.

After many long days and nights since that event, the Orange Sheriff’s Office can announce that arrests have been made in connection with this case.  

Orange County Investigators worked closely with Orange County Public Schools, the ATF, Virginia State Police, Probation and Parole, the Department of Forensic Science, the Department of Social Services, the Town of Orange Police Department and the Orange Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

This interagency cooperation is something that we cherish!

In connection to this event, Drakar L. Rawlings, age 31, of Orange, Virginia has been charged with one count of VA Code 18.2-56.2 (Allowing access to firearms by children), one count of VA Code 18.2-371.1(B) (Abuse and neglect of children) and two counts of VA Code 18.2-308.2 (Possession or transportation of firearms, firearms ammunition, stun weapons, explosives or concealed weapons by convicted felons)

Drakar L. Rawlings is being held at Central Virginia Regional Jail under no bond.

This case has been extremely complex and there have been a lot of false assumptions out there.

We thank the community for believing in us and trusting that we will be thorough in our efforts to seek Justice.

This continues to be an ongoing investigation, no further will be released at this time.