Texas Student Arrested at School After Rifle Found in Car

Texas authorities say they’ve arrested a student who was spotted carrying a firearm Wednesday near his high school.

The Richardson Police Department said they received a report about a rifle-wielding male at around shortly before 11 a.m. in the 1500 block of East Spring Valley Road. The caller told law enforcement the individual was last seen walking toward Berkner High School, located just a block away.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after and initiated a search in collaboration with the Richardson Independent School District. After successfully identifying the student, officers conducted a search on his car and allegedly found “what appeared to be an AK-47 style pistol and a replica AR-15 style Orbeez rifle.”

The student, who has not been publicly identified due to his age, was subsequently taken into custody and charged with unlawful carrying weapons in a weapon-free school zone.

During the search, Berkner High School and a nearby elementary school were placed on lockdown.

“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,” Richardson PD said.

The arrest came just a day after a mass shooting at an Uvalde, Texas elementary school. The suspect killed 21 people, including 19 children ages 7-10. The 18-year-old gunman was fatally shot by police.