A minor found with a replica firearm was taken into custody Wednesday, Oct. 21, following a report of an armed individual that prompted a brief lockdown at Desert Mirage High School, police said.
Deputies responded to the 86-000 block of 66th Avenue at 11:57 a.m. and made the arrest without incident, said Sgt. Robert Martinez, a spokesperson for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The incident occurred during the second-to-last class period of the day at the Thermal school, which was already following an early release schedule Wednesday.
No injuries were reported.
The school was placed on lockdown as a precaution, Martinez said. During a lockdown, students and staff generally remain inside secured classrooms, away from doors and windows,
until it is determined safe to resume normal activities.
Neither the sheriff's department nor Coachella Valley Unified School District specified when the lockdown began, how long it lasted or when it was lifted.
Generally, minors taken into custody are either released to their parents, issued a citation or notice to appear in court, or booked into a juvenile detention facility, Martinez said. Their cases are then referred to the Riverside County Juvenile Probation Department, which reviews the allegations and determines whether further action is warranted, including possible juvenile court proceedings.
Adult cases, by contrast, are referred to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office for review and possible criminal charges.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details were immediately available.
Jennifer Cortez covers education and breaking news in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Minor with replica gun taken into custody at Desert Mirage High in Thermal
