DENVER, April 10 (UPI) -- Three Denver middle school students were taken into custody Friday after authorities discovered the boys had at least two handguns and a smoke device on campus, police said.
Skinner Middle School was briefly locked down as Denver police searched the campus. No one was injured. Police said alert students at the school noticed the weapons and told authorities.
"Our students are to be commended for seeing something and saying something right away," Police Cmdr. Paul Pazen said.
Police said two boys were found with handguns and a third had a smoke device. They were taken into custody, but it is unclear if they have been arrested or charged.
The lockdown started about 8:40 a.m. and parents started arriving at the campus shortly after. A short time later, Denver police tweeted, "3 juveniles in custody -- 2 contacted w/guns, 1 w/a smoke device." It is not clear if the juveniles had ammunition for the guns.
Sixth-grader Ella Rodriguez told The Denver Post her friend saw what looked like a gun in a student's bag and told the principal. She didn't think the lockdown was real.
"I thought we were on a drill at first," Rodriguez said, adding police officers could be heard saying "It's clear!" and "Keep searching!"
Read More
- Teen guilty in stabbing attack on parents
- States love or hate gun control proposals
- FBI launches civil rights investigation into North Charleston shooting
- Maine teacher wins $1 million education prize
- Columbine survivor supports concealed weapons in schools
- Newtown final report details rampage, urges changes
