CARMICHAEL, Calif., March 20 (UPI) -- A 13-year-old California middle school student was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly pulled a gun in a classroom and aimed it at a teacher and at an armed school security guard who refused to shoot the youth and instead coaxed him into surrendering.
The boy, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, reportedly brought a .22-caliber pistol and 50 rounds of ammunition belonging to his father to his Sacramento County middle school Wednesday morning along with a self-styled will and a list of eight school officials who he allegedly planned to shoot.
No shots were fired during the incident, which began shortly after 9 a.m. PST at John Barrett Middle School in Carmichael. Deputies said the security officer was in a situation in which he could have opened fire.
"The student ... leveled the .22 caliber revolver at the officer, as if to shoot," Sheriff's Sgt. James Lewis said. "Although the officer was well justified to use lethal force, given the circumstances, he showed great restraint, and was able to get the 13-year-old suspect to drop the gun."
Lewis said the youth walked into a seventh-grade science class that he was not assigned to, pulled the weapon and pointed it at the teacher. The youth's brother happened to be in the class and convinced him to allow the terrified students, many of whom were in tears, to leave the room.
The school principal went to the room, but backed away when the student allegedly pointed the weapon at him.
An off-duty deputy working as a security guard for the school district then arrived and was able to convince the youth to drop his gun. A search of his backpack turned up the alleged hit list as well as the last will and testament.
Lewis said the boy had not been considered a discipline problem, but apparently had grown "tired of authority."
