A Spring Valley middle school was placed on lockdown for two hours Monday and a student was arrested after a realistic-looking BB gun was found on campus, authorities said.
Deputies were called to the STEAM Academy on Leland Street shortly before 2:30 p.m. after a student was accused of threatening another student with a firearm. By the time deputies arrived, the student had been located and sent to the school office, sheriff’s Lt. Michael Gonzales said.
Officials decided to place the magnet school, which enrolls sixth, seventh and eighth graders, on secure campus status about a half hour later.
During the lockdown, students and teachers remained inside their classrooms and continued instruction. Additional deputies were summoned, as well as dogs trained to sniff out ammunition and explosives, and deputies conducted a room-by-room search of the campus. Gonzales wouldn’t say exactly where the replica gun was found.
Students were released to parents around 5 p.m. after the secure campus was lifted.
The student was booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of making criminal threats and openly displaying a replica firearm in a public place. Officials did not specify if the student was male or female.
Gonzales said the investigation was ongoing.
