An alert business owner and Richardson police might have prevented violence at Berkner High School.
The Richardson Police Department reported that the person arrested at Berkner High School Tuesday — forcing Berkner and Spring Ridge Elementary into lockdown protocol — was a Berkner student, and, while no weapons were found on his person inside the school, they did find “a vehicle used by the suspect” in the parking lot of 1551 East Spring Valley (across the street from campus). Inside his vehicle, “officers observed what appeared to be an AK-47 style pistol and a replica AR-15 style Orbeez rifle.”
From what we know, while one weapon was a replica, a toy, the other was an actual gun. I have put a call into RPD for clarification.
They say a neighborhood business owner called the RPD at 10:55 a.m. saying he had seen a male holding what appeared to be a rifle headed toward the school.
“Within minutes of the call being dispatched, numerous police officers from various units within the Richardson Police Department responded to Berkner High School and initiated a search and investigation into this incident. Nearby schools were notified of the police activity,” RPD reports. “Based on the information provided and in collaboration with Richardson ISD, officers say they were able to identify the male suspect as a juvenile student of Berkner High School.”
The suspect was located inside Berkner High School, but no weapons were found on him. Further investigation led to the discovery of the vehicle and the firearms.
The juvenile suspect was arrested and charged with unlawful carrying weapons in a weapon-free school zone, T.P.C. 46.02, a state jail felony, according to police. No further information is being released on the suspect due to his age.
The department recognized the importance of the business owner who reported the student.
This incident comes on the heels of a mass shooting two days ago in Uvalde, Texas. Yesterday we spoke with a Lake Highlands teacher who says that although the administration and teachers in Richardson ISD are doing everything in their power to keep students safe, more is needed.
“Until we have that real conversation, and legit action to back it up, all of the prayers and laments and tears just come across as performative to someone like me, who really could be the next teacher this happens to,” teacher Casey Boland says.
This is developing story: We will report further on this once we learn more from police and follow up with the business owners in the area. If you have more information please message me at chughes@advocatemag.com.
