A student in Texas has been arrested after he was reportedly seen carrying a rifle near a school - just one day after 21 people were killed in a shooting at another school in the US state.
Police said they responded to reports of a pupil carrying a weapon near Berkner High School, in Richardson, yesterday (Wednesday 25 May) morning.
After tracking down the juvenile, officers found no weapons on his person, but inside his car they discovered 'what appeared to be an AK-47 style pistol and a replica AR-15 style Orbeez rifle'.
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In a statement, Richardson Police Department said: "Richardson Police Department received a phone call from a business in the 1500 block of East Spring Valley Road reporting a male holding what appeared to be a rifle. The male was last seen walking towards Berkner High School, located at 1600 East Spring Valley Road.
"Within minutes of the call being dispatched, numerous police officers from various units within the Richardson Police Department responded to Berkner High School and initiated a search and investigation into this incident. Nearby schools were notified of the police activity.
"Based on the information provided and in collaboration with Richardson ISD [Independent School District], officers were able to identify the male suspect as a juvenile student of Berkner High School.
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"The suspect was located inside Berkner High School, but no weapons were found. Further investigation led to the discovery of a vehicle used by the suspect in the parking lot of 1551 East Spring Valley Road. Inside the vehicle, officers observed what appeared to be an AK-47 style pistol and a replica AR-15 style Orbeez rifle."
The suspect - whose details are being kept anonymous due to his age - has been charged with unlawfully carrying weapons in a weapon-free school zone.
The incident came just a day after a massacre at Robb Elementary School, in the city of Uvalde.
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The 18-year-old gunman murdered 19 children and two adults, before being shot and killed by law enforcement.
It was the deadliest shooting at a US grade school since a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, almost a decade ago – and federal law enforcement officials said the death toll is expected to rise.
The massacre was another gruesome moment for a country scarred by an almost ceaseless string of mass killings at churches, schools and stores.
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The attack came just 10 days after a gunman in body armour killed 10 shoppers and workers at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in what authorities said was a racist attack.
Speaking from the White House on Tuesday (24 May), President Joe Biden said: "When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?
"I am sick and tired. We have to act."
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Jake Massey