Thurston County sheriff's deputies said the 33-year-old woman from Shelton, a language arts teacher, told them she had the gun because she was afraid of her estranged husband.

She has not been arrested or charged with a crime, but Deputy Prosecutor Dave Ryan said she is under investigation for unlawfully carrying a firearm on school grounds.

North Thurston School District officials have said only that a staff member from Nisqually Middle School was placed on administrative leave Thursday.

“At new employee orientation it's made very clear to them that weapons on campus for whatever reason is not tolerated,” district officials said.

Many parents said there is no excuse for a teacher to bring a gun on to school grounds, “Bringing a gun on school grounds is wrong no matter what the situation is,” one parent told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

Deputies said the teacher was found to have a .38-caliber Special handgun and five bullets in her purse on school grounds, and the weapon and ammunition have been confiscated.

Records in Mason County show Roe has filed for divorce and obtained a domestic protection order against her husband.