Police in Arizona have arrested an 11-year-old boy after a loaded gun was found in a school classroom.
According to the Scottsdale Police Department, Scottsdale police officers were called to Mountainside Middle School around noon Thursday after a firearm was discovered inside a classroom.
Police arrived and searched the school for additional weapons. No one was injured and all students at the school were safe.
A loaded gun was found on the classroom floor. Police said the student told staff there was a gun on the floor. A school resource officer was called to the situation and confirmed it was a loaded handgun.
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Mountainside Middle School in Scottsdale, Arizona. Police responded to the school on January 25, 2024, after a loaded handgun was found on the floor of a classroom. (Google Earth)
The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution while police investigated.
Scottsdale Police posted on X Thursday at 1:24 p.m., “The campus has been secured. The students are safe along with their teachers. School administration is assisting SPD with the investigation.”
After a thorough search of the school, officers began interviewing students who may have known about the gun.
“The Scottsdale Police Department is working diligently to investigate the circumstances surrounding the presence of a firearm at Mountainside Middle School,” police said in a statement Thursday. “We are working closely with the school administration to gather all necessary information and take appropriate steps to prevent such incidents in the future.”
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Police arrested an 11-year-old male student after conducting an investigation to determine the source of the loaded handgun.
The lockdown lasted for three hours until it was completely lifted. There was no reintegration process. Students were able to return home as usual about 10 minutes after class ended.
As a result of the investigation, a juvenile male was arrested for bringing a gun to school. Police identified the suspect as an 11-year-old boy, but his name has not been released because he is a minor.
Scottsdale Police said in a statement: “Charges are pending for minor in possession of a firearm, possession of a deadly weapon on school grounds, and reckless handling of a deadly weapon.”
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Scottsdale police said the boy will be charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon on school grounds and reckless handling of a weapon. (Scottsdale Police Department)
Officials previously assured the community that school safety remains a top priority for law enforcement.
“Officers will conduct additional patrols and increased presence in and around schools to ensure a safe learning environment for all students,” the police department said.
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“If anyone has concerns or information regarding a potential threat, we strongly encourage them to immediately report it to school administration or law enforcement,” police said.
The school said this was an isolated incident and there was no threat to the community, according to local news station KNXV-TV.
