WAUSAU, Wis (WSAU) Wausau police may never learn who's the owner of a loaded handgun found in the bushes near Lincoln Elementary School.

Using the gun's serial number, they've traced the gun's history. It was last registered to a man in Waukesha. But he sold it, either at a gun show in Southern Wisconsin or through a private sale at his house, several years ago. Records are kept only when guns are sold through gun dealers -- not for private sale or gun show transactions.

The gun may have changed hands several times since then.

On October 9th a group of students found the semi-automatic gun near the school and told a teacher, who then notified police.