D.C. fourth-grader 'brings cocaine to school, shares with classmates'

New York, Mar 19 (ANI): A fourth-grader in Washington D.C. allegedly brought cocaine to school and shared the drug with classmates.

The student has been charged with drug possession, authorities said.

Four students at Thomson Elementary School either sniffed or swallowed an unknown amount of the drug and were taken to a hospital after complaining they were ill on Thursday, reports the New York Daily News.

Police later determined the substance they ingested was cocaine.

D.C. Fire Department spokesman Pete Piringer said the students were fine aside from having sore throats.

School Principal Albert DuPont sent a letter home to shocked parents saying child protective services and the police are trying to determine how the child got the cocaine.

Authorities did not disclose whether the student is a boy or a girl.

"This is not a situation that is typical at Thomson, and we take it very seriously," DuPont wrote. "At school we will address drug awareness as a whole-school issue." (ANI)