A girl who brought an unloaded gun to Norwood Elementary School Thursday did so because she wanted to show it to her friend, according to Dr. Mark Manchin, superintendent of Harrison County Schools.

Police and school district officials were alerted to the incident after a 6-year-old girl showed the gun to her friend before school started. She had apparently put it in her backpack beforehand.

The friend then told a teacher, who alerted the principal, according to Dr. Manchin. The gun did not have a clip or any ammunition.

Dr. Manchin tells 5 News the child is "not in the best situation" at home, but would not elaborate further.

It's unclear how the child was able to access the gun at home, but she had apparently talked about the gun with her friend in the past.

Dr. Manchin says the school district is working to get the child counseling.

Parents in the Stonewood area say they're alarmed the student could get her hands on a weapon. So what kind of conversation will come from an incident like this? The full story is in the video above.