Teen brings weapon onto high school campus

TEMECULA – Police arrested a 16-year-old for bringing a handgun onto the campus at Temecula Valley High School on Friday.

Even though the gun was not loaded, said a school official, the teen-age boy had two bullets. Another student saw the suspect showing off the gun and reported the sighting, said Lt. Mark Bostrom, a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department spokesman.

There were no injuries, he said. The boy, who lives in Wildomar, was detained.

Security officials located the 10th grader and the gun

In a written statement that was quickly released to parents Friday afternoon, Temecula Valley Principal Richard Lawrence said, “It appears the student brought the gun to school to intimidate another student who he got into an argument with, over a girl, earlier in the week.”

According to the sheriff’s department on Monday, the weapon is registered to the suspect’s stepfather and was taken from the house without permission. Riverside County Child Protective Services was notified and the student was later booked into Southwest Juvenile Hall for possession of a firearm on school grounds.

Melanie Norton, the spokesperson for the Temecula Valley Unified School District, said, “It appears that only a small number of students saw the gun.” The suspect was only showing the gun, not threatening them with it, she said, adding that it did not disrupt classes.

The student is expected to be booked on suspicion of bringing a gun onto a school campus, said Bostrom. According to Lawrence, the district’s zero tolerance policy against weapons could bring a suspension and possible expulsion.

In his statement, Lawrence said, “While I am troubled and disappointed that any of our students would choose to bring a weapon onto our campus, I am proud to see one of our students do the right thing (by reporting the suspect).”

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