What started as a routine on Wednesday at Menlo-Atherton High School took a sharp turn when a staff member opened an athletic locker and found a backpack with a firearm inside, prompting a rapid response from school officials and police. The on-campus School Resource Officer quickly secured the weapon, and authorities say no students or staff were injured. Parents were notified once law enforcement began its investigation.
Staffer Spots Suspicious Move Before SRO Steps In
Atherton police say the incident unfolded around 1:00 PM, when a staff member saw two students walk up to an athletic locker, place something inside, block the view, and then leave. After they walked away, the staffer opened the locker and found a backpack containing a firearm. The School Resource Officer then took control of the weapon and launched an investigation, according to the Town of Atherton.
Police Announce Juvenile Gun Charges
According to the town's news release, the SRO identified two students believed to be involved, and police say charges have been filed that include possession of a firearm on a school campus, a minor in possession of a handgun, and possession of a firearm without a serial number. "At no time was the firearm brandished on campus, and there are no known threats to the campus community related to this incident," the Town of Atherton stated. Atherton police are asking anyone with information to call the department at 650-688-6500 and say the investigation is still active.
DA and Principal Offer Conflicting Snapshots
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told The Almanac that as of Thursday, no charges had been filed in court and no students were in custody, suggesting the legal process is lagging behind the police announcement. Menlo-Atherton Principal Karl Losekoot told parents the school did not go into lockdown and that administrators held off on alerting the community until police gathered more information, The Almanac reports.
Not the First Gun Scare at M-A
Over a three-week stretch in 2022, two students were found with firearms on the Menlo-Atherton campus, The Almanac notes. Those earlier cases triggered secure-campus protocols and spurred new conversations between the school district and local law enforcement about how to handle weapons on campus and when to notify families.
What Comes Next
School leaders and Atherton police say they will keep coordinating as the investigation moves forward and as authorities sort out the exact legal steps. District officials plan to reiterate campus safety expectations to students, while Atherton police continue to ask anyone with tips about the locker gun incident to call 650-688-6500.
