A gun found by a student in the Shepherd Middle School bathroom Monday morning belonged to Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main, who left the weapon behind inadvertently when he used the facility to change over the weekend.

Isabella County Prosecutor’s Office officials said the incident is “under investigation” and have offered no further comment, including who or what agency is investigating.

In a statement issued Tuesday morning, Main took full responsibility saying he is “devastated” by his own negligence in leaving the weapon in a school and praised the student who found it and immediately contacted an adult.

“In the 20 years of law enforcement service I have never left a weapon anywhere. I have no excuse for my lack of responsibility with this matter. I have worked diligently my entire career to protect people, especially our youth. However, I have failed to do just that, and I’m devastated with my lack of accountability in this matter,” he wrote.

The sheriff said he was at an event at the school when he used the locker room to change from his street clothes into uniform for a work event; he believed the gun – his secondary or backup firearm – was in his bag when he left.

It wasn’t until Shepherd Police Chief Luke Sawyer notified Main that a gun had been found in the school that Main realized he had left his own weapon behind, he said.

The gun was found by a student Monday morning who immediately notified staff;