PHOENIX, AZ — A 15-year-old student was arrested Tuesday morning after bringing a gun to the Marcos de Niza High School campus in Tempe, according to the Tempe Police Department.
The incident unfolded after a school resource officer (SRO) was alerted to a concerning social media video on Monday afternoon. The video reportedly showed a student holding a firearm in a school bathroom.
Investigation and Arrest
On Tuesday, a concerned adult reported a similar troubling video to school staff and the SRO, prompting a review of the footage. Authorities were able to identify the student depicted in the video.
As the student arrived at school that morning, staff, security, and the SRO approached him. The student fled the campus, running into a nearby neighborhood, which triggered a lockdown at Marcos de Niza High School and other nearby schools from approximately 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The student was eventually located by officers in a backyard after jumping multiple fences. A black handgun resembling the one seen in the video was recovered from the same yard, according to police.
Community Assistance
Authorities credited the quick resolution of the situation to the collaborative effort of the community. “Members of the community assisted in quickly identifying the student after the video was discovered,” the Tempe Police Department said.
No injuries were reported during the incident, and the lockdowns were lifted shortly after the student was taken into custody. Authorities have not confirmed whether the video reported on Tuesday was the same as the one from Monday.
Further details about charges against the student or potential disciplinary action by the school have not been released.
