RRHS released from lockout as police detain young man with gun off campus

Three schools were placed on lockout Tuesday as Rio Rancho Police were searched for a young man who allegedly pointed a gun at his girlfriend around noon Feb. 6 in the vicinity of Rio Rancho High School.

At around 1:35 p.m., the young man called police, saying he would exit Wendy’s on Unser Blvd. with his hands up. He was detained at 1:42 p.m. Officers looking for the gun in Wendy’s and said they think he may have dumped it.

“Today at 12:25, the Rio Rancho Police Department responded to a call for service advising a juvenile male had pointed a gun at his juvenile girlfriend. Officers were able to quickly identify the male who had already left the scene. An officer who is familiar with the youth was able to speak with him on the phone, at which time he peacefully surrendered to law enforcement. Charges will be forwarded to Juvenile Probation and Parole,” Capt. Jacqueline Reedy of RRPD said.

According to Reedy, the juvenile has been in contact with police before.

Rio Rancho High School and Stapleton Elementary School were all briefly placed on lockout as a precaution.

According to a message from RRHS, the lockout was to keep students and teachers safe.

The school sent out this notice:

“We wanted to let you know that Rio Rancho High School is currently under a temporary lockout due to a report of a suspicious individual in the vicinity of the campus.The Rio Rancho Police Department has been notified and is working with our Safety and Security officers to conduct a thorough investigation. As a precautionary measure, there is a heightened police presence on the campus at this time.“While class instruction is continuing as scheduled, please be aware that the campus is securely locked down, and no one will be allowed to enter or exit the premises until the incident has been fully resolved. Rest assured that our students’ and staff’s safety and security are our utmost priorities.“For students who are scheduled for an early release, we would like to assure you that they will be kept safe on campus until the lockout has been lifted.“We understand that this situation may cause concern, but we want to emphasize that every measure is being taken to ensure the safety of everyone on campus. We will provide updates as soon as the lockout is lifted.“Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students”.RRHS followed up this notice at 1:45 p.m., announcing that the lockout had been lifted.

Information about the incident will be provided as it becomes available.