A California high school went into lockdown on Tuesday after a student brought a loaded firearm on campus, the second time a student brought a weapon to the school in as many days.
The Redondo Beach Police Department announced that Redondo Union High School went into lockdown on Tuesday at around 9:30 a.m. local time following reports that a student had a weapon on campus.
The student, a 15-year-old sophomore, fled from school staff on foot, prompting the lockdown. The student was apprehended by a school employee and two police officers a short while later, and the lockdown was lifted around 10 a.m.
There was already an increased police presence at the school in response to another 15-year-old 10th grader bringing a loaded weapon to the school on Monday.
Police said there was “no evidence of a specific threat or plan for violence,” in both incidents. No shots were fired and no one was injured in both cases.
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Both students, whose identities were not released because they’re minors, were arrested on various firearm charges including juvenile in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm on school grounds, possession of a high-capacity magazine, carrying a loaded firearm in public, and possession of an unregistered loaded firearm.
Unclear if two incidents are connected
“The investigation concerning any indication that this incident may be related to the arrest the previous day, the source of the firearm, and other matters related to this incident are part of an ongoing investigation by the Redondo Beach Police Department,” officials said.
The cases will be sent to the Los Angeles County Probation Department, who will decide whether to file any charges.
The high school will be closed on Wednesday so police can sweep the campus for weapons and explosives without students and staff being present, school officials said.
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When classes resume on Thursday, the school will only have three entry and exit points that will be monitored by police and school officials. Resource officers will be available on campus all day, and there will be increased police patrols across not just the high school but all schools in the district.
The school plans to also have a community meeting to discuss the two incidents on Thursday at 8:30 a.m..
“The two back-to-back incidents are something we would never have imagined,” school officials said in the release. “We are going to need to work together to solve the issue of access to guns. Understandably, our school community will demand and expect RBUSD to ensure student safety each and every day. Pointing fingers and placing blame is not the solution.”
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