A routine lunch period at Moore Middle School in Redlands turned into an hours-long lockdown after staff said a 12-year-old student was found carrying a loaded gun in his backpack. The discovery came after another student reported that the boy had shown a bullet to classmates, triggering an immediate response from administrators, campus security, and police. No injuries were reported, no specific threats were made to students or staff, and investigators say the case remains active. The boy's parents were later arrested on suspicion of improperly storing the firearm.
What happened
According to NBC Los Angeles, Redlands police were called to Moore Middle School on Thursday afternoon after reports that a student had brought a loaded firearm onto campus. Another student alerted school administrators that the 12-year-old had been showing a bullet during lunch. Administrators and campus security detained the boy and, during a search of his belongings, discovered a loaded gun in his backpack.
The campus was placed on lockdown for several hours while officers and school safety staff swept the grounds. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and have not indicated that any direct threats were made.
Police and school response
Redlands Police Department's School Safety Updates state that the initial report came in at about 1 p.m. Investigators say the student brought the firearm from home with the intention of showing it to classmates. According to the department's notice, the boy's parents were arrested on suspicion of improper storage of a firearm.
The notice also says the school district scheduled a public information meeting for 5 p.m. Thursday in the campus multipurpose room to address questions and concerns from families. Officials asked anyone with information related to the incident to contact Redlands Police Dispatch, and the department noted it will continue working with the district as the investigation moves forward.
Legal implications
California's child-access-prevention and safe-storage laws can expose gun owners to criminal charges when minors are likely to gain access to unsecured firearms. The Giffords Law Center notes that penalties can apply even when a minor merely gains access, without any injury occurring.
The California Department of Education has circulated guidance and model language that require school districts to notify families about safe-storage requirements. Depending on how prosecutors and investigators assess the facts, charges tied to criminal storage of a firearm and possession of a weapon on school grounds are possible. School disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, may also follow.
Redlands's record on school safety
Recent School Safety Updates from Redlands officials list several incidents and precautionary lockdowns across the district, including prior reports at Moore Middle School and other campuses where searches have turned up replica or discarded weapons. That track record helps explain why administrators and campus security moved quickly this time to isolate the student, lock down the school, and bring in law enforcement.
City and district leaders say they intend to keep families informed as more details are confirmed and the investigation develops.
What parents should know
District officials stressed that no students or staff were harmed and reiterated that anyone with information should contact Redlands Police Dispatch at 909-798-7681 ext. 1, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. The district says it will provide support resources for students and families and plans to address questions at the scheduled parent meeting.
This story will be updated as Redlands police or the school district release additional information.
