Richardson high school student arrested after gun found in car; no injuries reported
A Richardson ISD high school was placed on lockdown Wednesday following reports of an armed person near the campus.
A school district spokesperson said Berkner High School was placed on lockdown for about 50 minutes in the morning and was taken out of lockdown at 11:45 a.m. once given the all-clear by the Richardson Police Department. Springridge Elementary, located two minutes away form Berkner, was placed on a secure protocol due to the situation.
In a news release issued by the Richardson Police Department, police said they received a report from a business in the 1600 block of East Spring Valley Road at 10:55 a.m. about a suspect holding a weapon walking toward Berkner High School.
The juvenile male suspect was identified as a student at Berkner High School, police said. He was located inside the school and weapons were found in the suspect’s vehicle. The weapons included what appeared to be an AK-47 style pistol and a replica AR-15 style Orbeez rifle, police said.
No gunfire was reported in the area and no injuries were reported, according to an email sent to parents by the school district at about 11:30 a.m.
A suspect was arrested and faces charges of unlawfully carrying weapons in a weapon-free school zone, a state jail felony, police said.
Students and staff at both schools were safe and accounted for, school officials said in the email. Richardson police are investigating the incident.
“The Richardson Police Department would like to remind the public of the importance to report suspicious activity, as we recognize the vigilant awareness and actions of the person who initially called 911 to alert law enforcement,” police said.
This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 2:11 PM.
