Firearm seized from student at local high school

WELLTON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - According to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office (YCSO), deputies seized a firearm from a student at Antelope High School.

Principal and Superintendent Pat Koury shared how the school was able to defuse the situation.

“Isolated them… searched them and low and behold we did find a gun it did not have a clip in it the clip was in another place but there was a clip on campus," said Koury.

The weapon was secured while the two students were isolated for interrogation.

Koury says YCSO responded immediately and he also wants to acknowledge the student who spoke up about discovering the weapon.

“Yuma County Sheriff’s Office did a wonderful job of handling the situation and uh there was no threat to a student… no students or staff were at risk,” said the principal.

The school was never placed on lockdown because as Koury said, there was no threat to students or staff. 

The school will look into the punishment of the students according to board policy.

A 15-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy were booked into the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center on misconduct involving weapons and minors prohibited from possessing a firearm.

A parent letter from John “Pat” Koury, the Superintendent, addressed the situation.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It is with deep concern that I inform you of a serious incident that occurred at our school. It has been confirmed that a student brought a firearm onto school premises today, November 6, 2023. Thankfully, no one was harmed, the weapon was not displayed, and it was not used to threaten anyone. The situation was promptly handled by our administration and local law enforcement without any threat to the safety of our students and staff.

First and foremost, I want to assure you that the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. We understand that events of this nature can be deeply unsettling, and we are committed to being as transparent as possible while respecting the legal constraints regarding student privacy.

Here is a brief outline of the events:

- The incident was discovered when a student reported to a teacher that a student might be in possession of a firearm.

- The school immediately implemented our safety protocols, which included calling 911 and isolating the suspected students in a secure area. The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office was notified and responded immediately.

- The weapon was secured. Two students were isolated for interrogation.

- The school was never placed in lockdown because there was no threat to students or staff.

I want to commend the student who came forward to report this incident, as well as our staff and local law enforcement, for their prompt and decisive action.

Please know that we are working in full cooperation with local authorities as they conduct their investigation. The students involved have been arrested and in custody of the Yuma County Juvenile authorities and will be facing appropriate disciplinary actions in accordance with our school policy and state law.

Your child’s safety is our number one concern, and we are committed to providing a secure learning environment. We will continue to work diligently to ensure that all of our students can learn and grow in a safe atmosphere.

We understand that this incident may raise questions and concerns. If you have immediate concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school administration, and we will assist you in any way we can.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate this challenging situation.

Sincerely,

John “Pat” Koury

Superintendent

John “Pat” Koury, Superintendent