A New York City fourth-grader was nearly suspended for bringing a 2-inch toy gun to school.

9-year-old Patrick Timoney and a friend were playing with Legos in the cafeteria at Public School 52 in Staten Island on Tuesday when Patrick produced the tiny plastic machine gun and put it in the hands of a plastic police officer.

The boy was sent to the principal's office and threatened with suspension.

Patrick's parents met with the principal and persuaded her not to discipline him if he agreed to leave the toy gun at home.

The boy's father, also named Patrick Timoney, said principal Evelyn Mastroianni "went overboard."

Mastroianni did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment Thursday.