Today, an El Paso County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Horizon Middle School received multiple reports about a student allegedly in possession of a firearm on campus.  

The SRO immediately notified school administration and located the reported student in question. The student, an 11-year-old, was in possession of a replica handgun, determined to be an airsoft gun.

During the investigation, two additional students, both 12-years-old, were found to be in possession of an additional replica handgun. 

All three students were charged with two misdemeanors: Interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions and Disorderly Conduct.

Officials at School District 49 have confirmed communication with parents regarding this incident. 

El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal issued the following statement:

“I want to impress upon parents and guardians the importance of awareness concerning their children. Who they communicate with, what items they bring to school, and their access to contraband or weapons. While this incident was addressed quickly and without incident, it caused unnecessary fear and the deployment of resources.

“School safety is of the utmost importance to my Office, and we will continue to monitor and investigate these incidents without hesitation. We are committed to keeping our schools safe and ensuring students have a secure place to learn and grow.”