By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Rio Rancho police responded to two reports of an armed subject threatening someone Monday morning, prompting a brief lockout at Rio Rancho High School, according to the Rio Rancho Police Department.
Officers received a report around 8:07 a.m. that a man pointed a firearm at another person at Shining Stars Preschool before leaving the area, RRPD said. Responding officers located the man’s vehicle on the roadway and conducted a traffic stop. Investigators are continuing to piece together what happened, RRPD said.
Shining Stars told families in an email Monday that the report involved a firearm possibly brandished during an argument between adults near campus, and that RRPD was investigating. Principal Dawn Ramos said the incident did not disrupt school operations and instruction continued as normal, though she acknowledged it may have worried parents who were on campus at the time. The school’s safety and security department and administration remain focused on keeping students safe, Ramos said.
About 18 minutes later, at 8:25 a.m., officers responded to a report of a disorderly subject threatening an employee while armed at Rio Rancho High School before leaving campus, RRPD said. The school went into lockout as a precaution while officers cleared the area. Investigators later determined no crime occurred — the man was verbally aggressive with staff, but no weapon was observed, RRPD said. Officers lifted the lockout once they confirmed there was no threat to students or staff.
RRPD thanked officers for their quick response and said keeping children and the broader community safe remains its top priority.