SOUTH BEND — Five students from Greene Intermediate School now face charges. They're involved with handling a loaded handgun on a school bus two weeks ago. The gun eventually made it's way inside the school.

Many of the parents say they are very upset.

Four of the five students being charged remain at the Juvenile Justice Center. Relatives say they can't believe this is happening.

"There's no reason why on heaven's Earth that he would think about killing anybody,” said Tim Long, parent of one of the students who handled the gun.

But police reports tell a different story. It's the reason prosecutors decided to file charges against his son and four other students.

"I think they have a responsibility to charge and given the evidence they needed to charge the case,” said Dr. Bill Bruinsma from the Justice Juvenile Center.

According to police reports we obtained, one student claims another student was upset because he was being picked on and was planning to bring "something" to school to take care of him.

Parents of the suspects don't believe it.

"I have no reason to believe that he should be charged with any of this,” said Long.

Reports also say witnesses heard one of the boys say "don't shoot, don't shoot."

Officials say the incident sends a clear message to parents and their children.

"Number one guns need to be locked up and kept away from children. But the children also need to know that this is not a good thing to do,” said Dr. Bruinsma.

However, parents of the boys being held in custody say the situation has been blown out of proportion. They believe their kids may have handled the gun just out of curiosity with no intent to harm anyone.

"The fact of the matter is that these kids were observant. I was observant when I was a kid, seeing things I never saw before," said Long.

"I am very upset. I'm ready to go to Indianapolis to the congressmen about this case.”

The five students are being charged as juveniles.

They each face two charges, ranging from possession of a firearm at school to criminal recklessness.

They're scheduled to appear in court next week.