News

Police charge mom of child who brought gun to Lyles Crouch Traditional Academy

By James Cullum
Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy at 530 S. St. Asaph Street in Old Town. (via Facebook)

The mother of the child who brought a gun to Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy in Old Town last month has been arrested and charged with allowing access of firearms to children.

The child went to school (530 S. St. Asaph Street) on March 1 with the wrong backpack and discovered the handgun in the bag and reported it to their teacher.

Police deemed the incident accidental on the part of the student, and said that the student’s parents fully cooperated. After a “comprehensive investigation,” the child’s mother, 31-year-old Alexa Dickens, was arrested and charged, according to an APD press release.

Allowing access of firearms to children is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a up to a $2,500 fine. Dickens’ court date has not been released.

About the Author

  • Reporter James Cullum has spent nearly 20 years covering Northern Virginia. He began working with ALXnow in 2020, and has covered every story under the sun for the publication, from investigative stories to features and photo galleries. His work includes coverage of national and international situations, as well as from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, Supreme Court and State Department. He's covered protests and riots throughout the U.S. (including the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol), in addition to earthquake-ridden Haiti, Western Sahara in North Africa and war-torn South Sudan. He has photographed presidents and other world leaders, celebrities and famous musicians, and excels under pressure.