This morning, staff at Mesa Ridge High School received reports of “multiple students” on school property who were in possession of a firearm. The on-site El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Student Resource Officer responded and located the student in possession of a handgun.
After securing the firearm, the SRO immediately located a second student associated with the incident. Both students were detained, and the school administration placed the facility in a security hold, while additional Patrol deputies, including a K9 team, could respond.
A subsequent security sweep of Mesa Ridge High School and the surrounding area was conducted, and the two detained individuals, both minors, were arrested on the scene.
The two juvenile suspects will be booked into a juvenile detention center and charged with:
-Interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions
-Possession of a handgun by a juvenile
-Unlawful conduct on public property
– and Unlawful possession of a weapon on school grounds
Due to recent changes in Colorado statute (Senate Bill 24-131), as enacted by the Colorado Legislature, all charges listed are now scheduled as misdemeanor offenses.
During the incident, several unsubstantiated reports of additional students at the school were made. Deputies investigated these reports with the assistance of K9 Jack, all of which were found to be unfounded.
“School safety is a top priority for my Office, and our commitment toward this mission extends far beyond the dedication of our dedicated School Resource Officers,” said Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “It is at the forefront of every law enforcement professional’s mind, because the safety of our children, teachers, and staff must never be taken for granted. School safety is an all-hands-on-deck approach, requiring coordination, vigilance, and accountability from everyone involved.
“When individuals choose to make threats—whether real or false—they jeopardize the sense of security within our schools and create unnecessary fear in our community. These actions will not be tolerated. My Office is fully committed to holding accountable anyone who seeks to disrupt the peace and security of our classrooms.
“Thankfully, our SROs, supported by our Patrol deputies and regional law enforcement partners, acted quickly and decisively in these incidents. They worked diligently to discredit the threats and identify their source, ensuring the community was informed and restoring a sense of calm. I am incredibly proud of their professionalism, their thorough investigations, and their unwavering commitment to the safety of our students and educators.”
During their investigation, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office found no indication of a plan to harm students or faculty at the school.