A 15-year-old student was arrested Tuesday morning after allegedly bringing a gun to Marcos de Niza High School in Tempe, Arizona. The incident prompted lockdowns at the high school and two nearby schools as a precaution.
The situation unfolded when a concerned adult reported a social media video showing a student holding a gun in a school bathroom. The School Resource Officer (SRO) and school administrators quickly identified the student in the video before school began.
When confronted by the SRO upon arriving at school, the student fled into a nearby neighborhood, leading to an immediate lockdown of Marcos de Niza High School, as well as a middle and elementary school in the area.
Tempe police established a perimeter and located the student hiding in a backyard. A black handgun, resembling the one seen in the video, was also discovered in the yard.
The student was taken into custody, and the lockdowns were lifted after approximately 45 minutes. Authorities are investigating whether this incident is related to another social media video, reported on Monday, showing a different or possibly the same student with a gun in a school bathroom.
Tempe Police Chief Ken McCoy praised the students who reported the video:
“I thank the students who stepped up to report this disturbing video rather than reposting it on social media. I also thank our school resource officers and our ACTION team who worked with school administrators to quickly make an arrest in this case.”
The incident highlights the importance of student vigilant reporting and swift coordination between school officials and law enforcement to ensure the safety of the school community. Further investigations are underway to determine any connections between the two incidents.
No injuries were reported, and police have not released additional details about potential charges against the student.