LABELLE — After receiving information earlier this morning (March 27) of the about the exchange of a firearm between two 10-year-old students enrolled at Country Oaks Elementary School; Hendry County Deputies along with Country Oaks Elementary School administrators spoke with and interviewed students which later resulted in their arrest.

After finding ammunition in 10-year-old Carlos Santos Madrid’s backpack a series of events began to unfold. It was learned that during the first part of February 10-year-old Jaiden Diego Escobedo agreed to exchange a handgun, later found to belong to his deceased father, for a sum of $300.

The firearm was later located in Madrid’s backyard under a shed. When investigators removed the firearm, they also located a baggie of marijuana weighing approximately 74 grams.

Madrid was arrested and charged with sale/purchase of a firearm by a minor, unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of a firearm on school property and possession of marijuana over 20 grams.

Escobedo was arrested and charged with selling of a firearm to a minor, unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor, possession of a firearm on school property and grand theft of a firearm.

The mother of Escobedo is a deputy with the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office and has been placed on administrative leave pending an administrative inquiry.

Both juveniles have been placed in the custody of Department of Juvenile Justice.

The Hendry County School District posted the following comment on social media: "Country Oaks Elementary School faculty members received information about this issue earlier today. As trained, the administration activated the Florida Model Harm Prevention/Threat Management System to follow up on the information. The information discovered was turned over to the Hendry County Sheriff's Office, with whom the School District collaborates in harm prevention and threat management. At no time were any students or faculty members in danger today, as the students of concern were not in attendance.