A 17-year-old was arrested in Fall River, Massachusetts, after being found with a loaded gun near a school, according to local authorities. The incident occurred on a Wednesday morning just before 11 a.m., close to Resiliency Preparatory Academy, a facility serving students from seventh through the 12th grade. Fall River police told WHDH that the arrest followed "proactive patrols" initiated after reports of possible disruptors near the school premises.
Officers on duty, recognized several juveniles near the school and became suspicious when they identified that at least one of them was not enrolled in the academy, police said. The encounter escalated when police conducted a frisk of the unenrolled juvenile, which resulted, in the discovery of a Cobra .380 firearm. According to a statement obtained by Boston25 News, the adolescent allegedly tried to fight off the police to avoid apprehension.
The struggle with police left two officers with minor injuries before the teen was successfully taken into custody. The charges against the young individual include carrying a loaded firearm in public without a license, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a Firearms Identification Card, and resisting arrest. Names and further details on the individuals involved have not been disclosed. The incident has triggered an ongoing investigation.
While the adolescent’s intent remains unclear, the presence of a loaded weapon in such proximity to a school site has understandably raised concerns within the community. The motive is yet to be determined, however, the safety protocols enacted by the Fall River Police Department managed to neutralize the potential threat without major harm to students or staff. These details and more were relayed by NBC Boston, signifying a swift response from the local law enforcement markered by their preventative approach to public safety in the area.
