A 38-year-old man was arrested in connection with the gun authorities say was found Thursday in a student’s backpack at a north Alabama elementary school.

Randy Keller, 38, of Cherokee, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor stemming from the incident at Cherokee Elementary School, the Colbert County Sheriff’s Office told WHNT on Friday. Keller was arrested on Thursday.

According to a statement Thursday from Colbert County Schools Superintendent Chris Hand, a firearm was found in the backpack of an elementary school student at Cherokee Elementary in Cherokee at the start of the school day.

The firearm was secured by a teacher, the school principal and the school resource officer, Hand said.

Both the school and Cherokee High School were placed in a state of “heightened awareness” which was later withdrawn. According to the school, at no time was it in lockdown.

“The student involved in this incident, along with the weapon, have been removed from the campus and turned over to law enforcement officials,” Hand said.

Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine said it appeared the student was unaware the gun was placed in the backpack.

“To start his day he opened his backpack and discovered a firearm in which time he immediately notified his teacher,” the sheriff said, according to WHNT. “Our SRO took care of the weapon and made sure it was clear and safe. It was determined by my investigators that they feel that the parent was possibly responsible for the weapon being in the backpack.”