Johnny 5
09-14-2007, 09:28 AM
Tragedy was averted at Rio Hondo High School. It went on lockdown for a brief period today after a gun and bullets were found on campus.
And while it sounds dangerous, campus police swiftly moved in without students knowing a thing.
For the first time in at least a decade a gun turns up inside the walls of Rio Hondo High School.
Campus police say they found a semi-automatic weapon inside a student's backpack. The clip is loaded, but not attached at the time.
Fear and panic, they're 2 words you'd think would come to mind during a school lockdown. Students afraid their lives could be in jeopardy, but the staff at Rio Hondo High School takes a very unique approach.
Claria Buddle was in her 10th grade biology class and told us what she heard, "The cafeteria didn't have enough food, so they just said to stay in class."
It's was a diversion, a tactic to keep the students out of the hallways while the school goes silently on lockdown.
Campus police hunted down the student in question following a tip. The ordeal ended without an incident. The juvenile suspect was arrested and the lockdown lifted. The whole thing took 30 minutes.
Police commend the staff for helping to avert a tragedy.
The school district sent home a letter with students describing the situation for parents. It briefly detailed how everything is under control.
Students couldn't agree more.
"They caught him before he could do anything so I don't think he could have done anything!" exclaimed Claria.
The male student in question is facing a weapons charge. He was taken to a juvenile detention center shortly after his arrest.
Meanwhile, here's what the school district is saying about the incident today. In a letter to parents, administrators say "Today our police officers received a tip that a student was in possession of a handgun. We activated emergency procedures and apprehended the student. The student was immediately taken into custody, and the handgun was confiscated. We assure you that the student will be adjudicated and will no longer be on campus."
This latest lockdown brings the total number this school year alone to three Valley-wide, this in just three weeks.
The first lockdown was at Progreso High School after a man threatened to kill a teacher right in front of her students. Police later arrested the man who made the threats.
The second was at Liberty School in Pharr after an anonymous caller reported a weapon was on campus. After an intense search no weapon was found.
Link (http://www.kgbt4.com/Global/story.asp?S=7071994)
Video (http://www.krgv.com/Video/News/979568.wvx)
And while it sounds dangerous, campus police swiftly moved in without students knowing a thing.
For the first time in at least a decade a gun turns up inside the walls of Rio Hondo High School.
Campus police say they found a semi-automatic weapon inside a student's backpack. The clip is loaded, but not attached at the time.
Fear and panic, they're 2 words you'd think would come to mind during a school lockdown. Students afraid their lives could be in jeopardy, but the staff at Rio Hondo High School takes a very unique approach.
Claria Buddle was in her 10th grade biology class and told us what she heard, "The cafeteria didn't have enough food, so they just said to stay in class."
It's was a diversion, a tactic to keep the students out of the hallways while the school goes silently on lockdown.
Campus police hunted down the student in question following a tip. The ordeal ended without an incident. The juvenile suspect was arrested and the lockdown lifted. The whole thing took 30 minutes.
Police commend the staff for helping to avert a tragedy.
The school district sent home a letter with students describing the situation for parents. It briefly detailed how everything is under control.
Students couldn't agree more.
"They caught him before he could do anything so I don't think he could have done anything!" exclaimed Claria.
The male student in question is facing a weapons charge. He was taken to a juvenile detention center shortly after his arrest.
Meanwhile, here's what the school district is saying about the incident today. In a letter to parents, administrators say "Today our police officers received a tip that a student was in possession of a handgun. We activated emergency procedures and apprehended the student. The student was immediately taken into custody, and the handgun was confiscated. We assure you that the student will be adjudicated and will no longer be on campus."
This latest lockdown brings the total number this school year alone to three Valley-wide, this in just three weeks.
The first lockdown was at Progreso High School after a man threatened to kill a teacher right in front of her students. Police later arrested the man who made the threats.
The second was at Liberty School in Pharr after an anonymous caller reported a weapon was on campus. After an intense search no weapon was found.
Link (http://www.kgbt4.com/Global/story.asp?S=7071994)
Video (http://www.krgv.com/Video/News/979568.wvx)