US police seize pistol from six-year-old kindergarten pupil walking to school

A kindergarten student had a handgun confiscated after someone noticed him walking into school with an object in his pants, police say.

A pistol has been confiscated from a kindergarten pupil in the US who was walking into school, police say.

Police in Columbus, Ohio, said someone reported seeing the boy with what appeared to be a heavy object in his pants.

Officers stopped the six-year-old at the front door of Columbus Africentric Early College on Friday and took the handgun away from him.

Police seized the pistol after a passerby spotted the six-year-old boy with it. Source: Supplied

In a Facebook post, the Columbus Police Department said its Gun Crimes Unit was now investigating how the child got access to the pistol.

However, police said the child will not be charged "because of his age".

"The investigation is ongoing," the post said.

"If you've taken the time to read this post please take the time to make sure guns in your home are secure for your safety and for the safety of others."

It's unknown if the weapon was loaded, but the photo posted to Facebook shows the seized pistol unloaded with a full magazine next to it and a single loose bullet.

WBNS-TV reported that the principal said in a letter to parents the student "will face appropriate discipline" but did not specify what that would be, according to Associated Press.

Principal Tyree Pollard reiterated the Columbus school's zero tolerance policy on weapons and urged families to talk with children about keeping such items out of schools.

- With AP