A student at La Cueva High School was in police custody Friday after the school was locked down following a report of the student flashing a firearm.
La Cueva Principal Maurice Guerin sent a letter to school families, saying police had confiscated the student’s backpack, which was believed to contain the weapon. He wrote that authorities were waiting for a search warrant before opening the backpack to confirm the presence of a weapon and determine whether it was loaded.
“Because this is now a criminal matter, we need to be sure that we’re following proper protocols,” Guerin wrote.
(Roberto E. Rosales / City Desk ABQ)
Albuquerque Police Department Spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos did not provide any details other than that there was not an active shooter at the school, and he referred all other questions to Albuquerque Public Schools.
The campus operated under a shelter-in-place order for about an hour, according to a notice on the district’s website.
District Spokesperson Martin Salazar said police are continuing to investigate the incident.
This is the third occurrence this school year of an APS student being accused of possessing a firearm on campus. In early September, a Valley High School student was arrested after school staff reportedly found a handgun in his backpack.
About two weeks later, another student was taken into custody after authorities reportedly found weapons in his backpack and vehicle based on anonymous tips.