Local High School evacuated, police search for gun on campus
Three Calexico High School students are being held by police. Authorities said one of them allegedly took a realistic-looking imitation gun to school on Thursday.
Calexico Police Lieutenant Jesus Serrano said, “We got a call from one of the students, from the classrooms, that there was a student there in a classroom with a gun.”
As soon as school officials found out about a possible gun being in school, they immediately placed the campus on lockdown just before 3 p.m., Serrano explained. However, he didn’t elaborate how the school found out.
“We had about six officers respond in addition to about ten to fifteen U.S. Border Patrol agents. We met with school officials and they directed us to the room number where the kid with the possible gun,” Serrano said.
Police questioned several students and detained three for further questioning. They searched of the classrooms and backpacks for the alleged gun.
They found an imitation gun was that Serrano said looked so realistic it was hard to tell at first glance whether it was real or not. He said it had a red plastic tip at the end of the barrel.
News of the lockdown spread quickly making hundreds of family members fill the street looking for their kids. One of them was Juan Manuel Perez, whose granddaughter is a student there.
“I got very scared. I didn’t know what was going on. A woman said they had found a gun and that students were arrested,” Perez said.
Serrano said students were not allowed to leave immediately.
“The kids are not allowed until the school is safe for them to exit their classrooms and then they are escorted towards the front of the school,” Serrano explained.
Perez was filled with joy when, after waiting for over an hour, he saw his granddaughter walking out safely. He waited at the gate for her and gave her a big hug when she walked out.
Serrano said, “I know it’s a stressful situation but to be patient. We’ll definitely take care of their kids.”
Police congratulate the student who reported the imitation gun.
“He was not wrong in calling because he did not know if it was a real gun or an imitation or even a toy,” Serrano said.
At this time, the status of the three students detained for questioning is not known. Police said they will decide whether to release them to their parents, or charge them with a crime, after their investigation is completed.
