Police in Texas have released harrowing body camera footage of the moment they confronted an armed boy who threatened to shoot up a school in Mesquite, Texas.
New video shows officers negotiating with the unidentified suspect, 16, after they were dispatched to Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy on February 19.
The school’s assistant principal called 911 at 8:49 a.m. and told the operator that the student entered his office with a gun and refused to put it down.
‘I’m the vice principal and a student just pulled out a gun. I need someone here now. I am with him. He’s fine. I’m calming him down. I need you to get someone here now,” the manager said in the newly released 911 call.
Once police arrived, they approached the office and told the assistant principal to leave while they attempted to negotiate with the 16-year-old. While they were talking to him, the boy was seen crouching down before the police officers fired their weapons.
In total, three officers fired 19 shots at the student, who did not fire his weapon.
Body camera footage revealed a Mesquite Police Department officer responding to a call from an administrator of a student with a gun at Pioneer Academy of Technology and Arts on February 19.
The school’s assistant principal (pictured) called 911 and told the operator that the student was in her office with a gun and that she was going to lock down the school.
After officers told the manager to leave, they attempted to speak with the boy, who did not respond to them before he grabbed his bag. A total of three officers fired 19 shots at the boy and the student did not fire any shots, police said.
In the 911 call, the assistant principal tells the operator that she is closing the school, while her voice shakes and she tries to remain calm.
“He’s just standing there, he doesn’t put the gun down,” he told the operator.
The administrator then repeatedly tells the student, ‘Uh uh no. No! Down it! No! Leave it, no! Put him back on the ground!’
Within two minutes, the first officer arrived at the school as the campus was locked down before two others joined him.
They soon located the administrators office and saw her at the door talking to the young man.
He quickly informed the officers about what was happening before being told to leave the office.
The officer, with his gun drawn, approached the officer and said to the boy, ‘What’s up today, buddy?’
‘Can you talk to us?’
The boy does not respond as the officer proceeds to say, “We would like to help you, that’s why we are here.”
Is there anything bothering you today? Can you listen to me carefully? Please don’t take out that gun,” the officer says.
‘We don’t want anything to happen to you or anyone else. Can you do that for me?’
The student remains silent while the officer says, ‘What bothered you today? Maybe we can talk about it.
The identity of the student has not been revealed because he is a minor. Investigators recovered a Rossi 38 Special revolver (pictured) from the boy.
After the exchange of gunfire, police said the student “complied with commands and was taken into custody” before being taken to a local hospital.
The angel on the body camera footage changed as the student is seen sitting in a chair inside the office.
‘We just need you to get away from your comrade-in-arms. You’re not in trouble, okay?
“We just need you to move away so we can…” an officer says before the student bends down and tries to grab something from his bag on the ground.
The officers then fire their weapons at the student as the officer’s door begins to close. When they open it again, the student is seen standing with a gun in his hand before the police shoot again.
In a news release, police said the student “complied with orders and was taken into custody” before being transported to a local hospital.
The Dallas Morning News He reported that the student’s legs were injured in the gunshots and that police are not sure if he was shot or hit by shrapnel.
The identity of the student has not been revealed because he is a minor. Investigators recovered a Rossi 38 Special revolver from the child.
Police said he was taken to a Dallas County juvenile detention center and charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and display of a firearm.
Witnesses interviewed said the student came to school that day with “intentions to harm others,” police said, but gave no further details.
No other injuries were reported and two of the three officers involved were veterans, while one was an officer in training, according to the news release.
Police said he was taken to a Dallas County juvenile detention center and charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault on a public servant and display of a firearm.
No other injuries were reported and two of the three officers involved were veterans, while one was an officer in training, according to the news release.
The school was searched by officers after the incident and the remaining students were taken to a nearby church and released to their families.
‘We are grateful that this incident did not result in injuries to other students, faculty members or any staff. “Mesquite Police would like to commend the actions of administrators during this event and the school’s compliance with standard response protocol,” the news release states.
“These actions, along with the immediate response of the Mesquite Police and Fire Departments, ensured that this outcome was not the tragedy it could have been.”
The school has installed new security measures to better protect the campus after students and staff returned on Tuesday.
A statement from the school said it would take steps to “harden” the school and keep it safe, such as adding medal detectors, multiple cameras, security entry points and additional training for staff.
“Please understand that we do not make this decision lightly, but we believe it is essential to support the healing process for everyone involved,” the school said.
“We are here for you as a community and family, and we encourage you to reach out for support and use this time to come together in reflection and care for each other.”