A middle school student from Castle Park Middle School was arrested on Monday morning for possession of a firearm, the Chula Vista Police Department reported. Just before 11 a.m., the school, located at 160 Quintard Street in Chula Vista, was the scene of police activity after a 9-1-1 call triggered an urgent response made possible through a Drone as First Responder (DFR) program. According to the Chula Vista Police, the DFR pilot was alerted to the emergency via Live911 and informed units of the drone's deployment.
The incident unfolded swiftly as a police school resource officer arrived on the scene almost as the call came through; the officer, who was already near the school, went directly to the administrative offices, where the student presumably had an appointment, the student was cooperating with the officer and upon a search, was discovered to have a firearm and was subsequently arrested, the student was later booked into Juvenile Hall. In line with policies for minors, no further details about the student's identity have been disclosed.
Initial reports suggest that the weapon was discovered after a tip-off from fellow students. A statement released by the Chula Vista Police Department clarifies, "Based on the preliminary investigation, a tip about the suspected student possibly having a firearm was reported to school staff by other students." Furthermore, there appears to be no indication that the student had made any threats or pointed the weapon at anyone at this stage.
School resource officers are currently conducting a deeper investigation into how the student came into possession of the firearm and the broader circumstances of the incident, as a balance must be struck between community safety and the sensitivity of dealing with a minor, this event, sobering in its gravity, punctuates a contemporary urgency in understanding the interplay between adolescence, education, and firearms. The department encourages anyone with more information to step forward and contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 or to submit tips uniformly online or through the P3tips mobile application.
