A 13-year-old student was apprehended by police on Wednesday after he allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a teacher while wearing a ‘Scream’ Halloween costume.
Police received a call at approximately 1 p.m. of an armed person running through a field at the De Anza Middle School in Ontario, California, reports ABC 7.
The caller told police that the suspect was wearing the movie-inspired Halloween costume and had run through the school campus carrying a handgun. He subsequently pointed the gun at a teacher who was in a classroom with students.
The suspect ran out of the school and jumped over a fence that separates De Anza Middle School from Vista Elementary School. He then ran into a backyard that abuts the schools.
Both schools were placed on lockdown as officers searched the area for the fleeing suspect. Amid an “intensive” search of the area, another nearby school, Ontario Christian Elementary, was also placed on lockdown, according to CBS.
Officers were able to locate the suspect approximately one mile away in the area of Campus Avenue and Mission Boulevard. Police found the handgun and the costume in his backpack. The suspect was arrested without incident and no injuries were reported. His name has not been released as he is a juvenile.
A statement from the Ontario-Montclair School District says the suspect “worked in isolation and did not collaborate his efforts with any other individuals”.
The statement also says the district is in coordination with the Ontario police and “will provide additional security at the campus”, consisting of added security personnel and an increased police presence from the Ontario and Montclair police departments.
Counseling and crisis intervention experts were available to meet with students, parents and staff. The statement says 98 percent of students were in school on Thursday as classes continued as normal.
