Redondo High To Reopen Following Back-To-Back Student Gun Arrests

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Students at Redondo Union High School will return to campus Thursday with extra security measures put in place following the arrest of two 15-year-old students who brought guns to school on back-to-back days this week.

Both 10th-grade students were arrested on Monday and Tuesday in two different incidents where officials were informed about them being in possession of loaded firearms. The high school was closed on Wednesday while the Redondo Beach Police Department worked with school officials to conduct a thorough sweep of the campus and reevaluate safety protocols.

On Monday, Officers received a report of a student in possession of a weapon at the high school at about 10:30 a.m. and immediately launched an investigation, officials said. In coordination with school officials, the student was immediately detained and the gun was recovered.

"No one was injured during this incident, and no evidence of a threat or plan for violence has been discovered during the initial investigation. At this time, this appears to be an isolated incident involving only the student who has been arrested," RBPD said in a statement.

At about 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, RUHS administration received an anonymous tip that a student on campus was in possession of a firearm, officials told parents in an email. According to the Redondo Beach Police Department, the 15-year-old ran from school staff, prompting officials to put the campus on lockdown.

RBPD was already on campus at the high school due to the previous day's incident and were able to quickly detain the student, authorities said. No shooting or discharge of the weapon occurred, RBPD said.

"The two back-to-back incidents are something we would never have imagined. We are going to need to work together to solve the issue of access to guns," RUHS officials said in a statement. "Understandably, our school community will demand and expect RBUSD to ensure student safety each and every day. Pointing fingers and placing blame is not the solution."

Neither student was identified due to their age. During an online presentation for parents Wednesday morning, RBPD Lt. Cory King said the investigation was continuing into how and why the students had the weapons on campus. He said neither student is a documented gang member.

"We are still actively investigating what these students' intents were with possessing these weapons," King said.

He added: "There was no evidence of a planned school shooting or specific hit list or act of violence threatening a specific individual at this time."

New safety measures will be put in place until Dec. 15 when RUHS students go on winter break, officials said. The new protocols include, but are not limited to:

• Limiting entry and exit points on campus when school resumes to only three locations;
• RBPD officers and school administrators will be present at each entry point
• Increasing police patrols focusing on RUHS, but also including all campuses in the Redondo Beach Unified School District;
• Keeping the School Resource Officers on campus all day.

Both teens were arrested and transported to the Redondo Beach Police Department on suspicion of juvenile in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm on school grounds, possession of a high-capacity magazine, carrying a loaded firearm in public and possession of an unregistered loaded firearm.

Authorities said both cases will be prepared by investigators and forwarded to the Los Angeles County Probation Department for consideration of filing charges.

Anyone who may have additional information about either incident was urged to contact RBPD at 310-379-2477. Residents can also text 310-339-2362 or submit an anonymous tip at [email protected].

City News Service contributed to this report.