No weapon or suspect found
Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: Safford schools were placed on lockdown Friday after it was reported a high school student was in possession of a firearm. No suspect of weapons were located.
Staff Reports
SAFFORD – Safford schools were placed on lockdown Friday morning after police were informed a Safford High School student was in possession of a firearm.
Officers responded to the school shortly after 8 a.m. with other law enforcement agencies, according to a social media post from Matthew Hoshal, Assistant to the Safford City Manager.
No suspect or firearms were located during a search by police.
Local law enforcement has set up a “reunification point” at the Safford Bus Barn for parents to pick up their children, according to Hoshal.
Later in the day, Safford Police Chief Brian Avila released the following statement.
“At approximately 8:39 a.m., officers from the Safford Police Department, Thatcher Police Department, Pima Police Department, Graham County Sheriff, and Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to the Safford High School in reference to a report of a student on campus carrying a handgun,” Chief Avila said in an email. “Upon responding to the school, Officers placed the high school on lockdown status.”
“As part of (the) protocol, surrounding schools and daycares were also placed on lockdown. Officers began an investigative search of the high school and witnesses were interviewed. Information from this incident (was) formulated through a social media post between students stating that an unidentified person in the male restroom was heard cycling a gun and removing their clothing.”
“A secondary post was made stating that an additional student had witnessed the unidentified person with the handgun earlier in the morning. Upon further investigation utilizing interviews and surveillance video, the reported incident could not be corroborated. Precautionary measures remained in effect while the investigation continued. A full search of the high school was completed, with no evidence recovered.”
“Students from the High School were escorted away from the campus to a reunification point and released. The remaining schools and daycares were opened to resume normal activities. All Safford schools were released at their normally scheduled time. Safford Police are continuing their investigation at this time.”
“The Safford Police Department would like to thank our partner agencies for their rapid response and continued support. We would also like to thank the students and faculty at the Safford Schools. Their response to this incident was controlled and orderly allowing us to operate in an efficient manner. It was commendable of our student’s parents and the general public for their cooperation in dealing with this incident. Safford Police are working with the Safford School District to ensure safety within the schools and any extracurricular activities, including tonight’s varsity football game.”
