California teacher who accidentally discharged firearm during safety lesson resigns

A teacher at a California high school who accidentally discharged a gun in a classroom has resigned.

“Dennis Alexander submitted his resignation on March 29 effective at the end of this school year,” Marci McFadden, a spokeswoman for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, wrote in an email, according to the Monterey Herald. “He currently remains on administrative leave while we continue our internal disciplinary process.” 

{mosads}Alexander — who serves as a reserve police officer for Sand City, as well as a Seaside councilman — accidentally fired a gun in a classroom last month when he was giving a lesson on public safety at Seaside High School in Monterey County.

The weapon was pointed toward the ceiling when it was fired. Alexander, a math and administration of justice teacher, was place on administrative leave after the incident.

Three students were injured due to falling ceiling debris, according to the Monterey Herald.

Last month, police said Alexander had a gun safety training “a little less than a year ago.” He had the gun in the classroom because he was “providing instruction related to public safety,” they said.

After the incident, Alexander apologized at a city council meeting.

He has since also resigned from the Sand City Police Department, according to The Washington Post.

Gun control has become a central issue in the country since a gunman opened fire at a high school in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 people.

Students who survived the shooting have become vocal advocates for gun control, demanding that lawmakers take action to prevent future shootings.

Last month, hundreds of thousands of people marched in cities across the country to protest gun violence and demand change. Parkland students spoke at the march in Washington, D.C., where they warned lawmakers they would be voted out of office if they didn’t take action.