Parents, Students Confused After 2 Guns, Device Found At Middle School
DENVER (CBS4)- Three middle school students remained in custody on Friday night after being arrested in connection with weapons discovered at their school. The incident has left their classmates and parents confused.
Skinner Middle School, located at 3435 West 40th Avenue, was placed on lockdown at 8:30 a.m. Friday, less than an hour after parents left their children at school.
"I texted him, 'Are you OK?' and he said, 'Yeah, I'm good' and I got another one but he's on a field trip, he wasn't even in the school," said concerned mother Priscilla Zarate.
Police said the three students were arrested and two handguns were found after a search of the school. Officers removed two different backpacks and an evidence bag from the school.
VIDEO: Denver Police Hold News Conference About Incident At Skinner Middle School
Police said the third juvenile who didn't have a gun had some sort of smoke device.
Denver Police Cmdr. Paul Pazen said a potential tragedy was averted thanks to alert students who notified staff about the guns.
"The students and the staff did everything that they were supposed to do to prevent any kind of injury or harm as a result of this action. Our students are to be commended for seeing something and saying something right away," said Pazen.
No one was injured.
RELATED: Police Search Home Of Student Arrested In Skinner Middle School Investigation
Joseph Martinez told CBS4 he knows one of the boys arrested, and said he couldn't believe it.
"I'm not sure what they were feeling, if they were hurt or someone was making fun of him. He's a nice guy. He was nice to everybody," said Martinez.
Police are still investigating the possible motive.
The school had been planning an overnight lock-in for students with good grades. It's not clear if the students who were arrested were among those who were supposed to attend. That event was cancelled after the lockdown.
