You can't take two jumps off a cliff.
This is actually a non-story, but it goes to show that RPD is giving serious attention to firearms on school property. Would this police search and SWAT response have happened without the Nystrom Elementary shooting? We'll never know, but we at the Tazer think it's better to be safe than sorry.
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Gun rumor stuns school
RICHMOND: Police swarm De Anza and detain two students, but find no firearms, and no one is arrested
By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Police with rifles and tactical gear swarmed Richmond's De Anza High School in search of a student with a gun Thursday afternoon but found neither weapon nor suspect.
School staff called police at 2:27 p.m. after a female student reported seeing a teen with a handgun somewhere on campus, police Lt. Mark Gagan said.
The report brought dozens of officers from all corners of town to the May Valley neighborhood in the city's suburban northeastern area.
"When we get a call of this nature, we take it very seriously," Gagan said. "Officers were on-scene very quickly, and we also called in patrol officers from downtown. We sealed the campus and began to search."
The campus remained locked down until 3:12 p.m., when police allowed students to leave classrooms and go home. Police detained two teenagers who matched the description of the student with the gun given by the witness, but both were quickly released, Gagan said.
"It makes me scared. I mean, some guy carrying a gun on campus? What if he shot me?" said 15-year-old Kayla Cariglio, who stood with friends in front of the school. "I was stuck for like two minutes after school, but then they let us out."
Police continued searching the campus after releasing the students. Gagan said that while no weapon was found, the incident helped prepare the department.
"An incident like this one, where we get a report of a person armed with a gun on a school campus, tests our ability to respond quickly and effectively," Gagan said. "I believe we were effective today and were prepared to keep the students safe."
De Anza Principal Vera Rowsey declined to comment through a spokesman.
On Monday, the first day of instruction in the West Contra Costa school district, a drive-by shooting in south Richmond sent two stray bullets through classrooms at Nystrom Elementary school. No one was hurt.
Staff writer Kimberly S. Wetzel contributed to this article. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.
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Gun rumor stuns school
RICHMOND: Police swarm De Anza and detain two students, but find no firearms, and no one is arrested
By Karl Fischer
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Police with rifles and tactical gear swarmed Richmond's De Anza High School in search of a student with a gun Thursday afternoon but found neither weapon nor suspect.
School staff called police at 2:27 p.m. after a female student reported seeing a teen with a handgun somewhere on campus, police Lt. Mark Gagan said.
The report brought dozens of officers from all corners of town to the May Valley neighborhood in the city's suburban northeastern area.
"When we get a call of this nature, we take it very seriously," Gagan said. "Officers were on-scene very quickly, and we also called in patrol officers from downtown. We sealed the campus and began to search."
The campus remained locked down until 3:12 p.m., when police allowed students to leave classrooms and go home. Police detained two teenagers who matched the description of the student with the gun given by the witness, but both were quickly released, Gagan said.
"It makes me scared. I mean, some guy carrying a gun on campus? What if he shot me?" said 15-year-old Kayla Cariglio, who stood with friends in front of the school. "I was stuck for like two minutes after school, but then they let us out."
Police continued searching the campus after releasing the students. Gagan said that while no weapon was found, the incident helped prepare the department.
"An incident like this one, where we get a report of a person armed with a gun on a school campus, tests our ability to respond quickly and effectively," Gagan said. "I believe we were effective today and were prepared to keep the students safe."
De Anza Principal Vera Rowsey declined to comment through a spokesman.
On Monday, the first day of instruction in the West Contra Costa school district, a drive-by shooting in south Richmond sent two stray bullets through classrooms at Nystrom Elementary school. No one was hurt.
Staff writer Kimberly S. Wetzel contributed to this article. Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@cctimes.com.
posted by Plunda Claus @ 9:13 AM
4 Comments:
At September 01, 2006 9:52 AM,
Anonymous said…
Is this why there were all police cars from all across the bay area in richmond yesterday.
At September 01, 2006 12:50 PM,
Anonymous said…
This what I have been stating all along with regards to winning the WAR ON VIOLENCE! You have got to have boots on the ground, manpower with the long guns to root out these nests of the shooters and killers!
This happens only because the City Goverment of Richmond and more importantly the community ALLOWS it to happen.
Yours in the Struggle for Human and Civil Rights in Richmond;
Micheal Ali- The Committee of Families for the Safety of Our Children
At September 01, 2006 1:05 PM,
Anonymous said…
That's right Mike, let the pounding begin on all of these weapons carrying thugs!
At September 01, 2006 1:21 PM,
Anonymous said…
This incident may have been as silly as a lunchroom squabble gone awry, and a real firearm may not have even been involved.
However, Lt. Gagan has it right and RPD must be swift and decisive. There's no way to know for sure if they're up against the real thing, and it's better that they err on the side of caution.
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