Junior ROTC practice prompts police raid

PEORIA, Ill., April 10 (UPI) -- Reports of a rifle-toting teen entering a Peoria, Ill., high school led police to swarm the building only to discover student military training taking place.

It turned out Richwoods High School was actually closed for spring break and the student in question was a member of the Junior ROTC practicing marksmanship under the supervision of an instructor, the Peoria Journal-Star reported Friday.

The JROTC members were using air rifles issued by the U.S. Marine Corps and didn't have any ammunition, a district academic officer says.

When a special response team of police stormed the building Thursday, they found the teen and other JROTC members in the school gym, the newspaper said.

Academic officer Mary Davis said JROTC policy requires air rifles to be stored at the high school in a locked area. Apparently the teen seen entering the building was taking her own air rifle from home, Davis told the Journal-Star.

Davis and district spokesman Chris Coplan wouldn't say if the girl would face disciplinary action.