LA QUINTA: Charges filed again student who brought replica firearm to middle school
LA QUINTA – A student was detained Friday, March 10, after he was found in possession of a realistic-looking, replica firearm at the La Quinta Middle School campus, according to sheriff’s officials. La Quinta Middle School is located 78900 Avenue 50 in La Quinta and is part of Desert Sands Unified School District.
The replica firearm – a CO2 powered BB gun that was all but indiscernible from a real firearm – resembled a stainless steel .357 revolver and included realistic-looking, replica style bullets.
Deputies recovered a CO2 powered replica firearm from a La Quinta Middle School student.
The student, who has not been identified due to his age, was later released to his parents, according to Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Paul Heredia. Charges for possessing the replica firearm on school grounds will be filed against the student.
The investigation began about 1:20 p.m, after a La Quinta sheriff’s deputy assigned as a school resource officer at the middle school was notified regarding a student on campus who was allegedly in possession of a handgun. The deputy began investigating the incident and requested assistance from other sheriff’s officials.
The school resource officer and other deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Thermal station “immediately located” the student in a class and safely moved him away from the presence of other students, teachers, and school administrators, Herredia explained.
During a subsequent investigation and search, officials located and seized the replica firearm from the students’ backpack, according to Herredia.
Based on the circumstances, deputies initiated the Kids with Guns Protocol and checked the students’ locker and residence for additional weapons. Deputies did not locate any other weapons.
Sheriff’s officials did not specify if the student had made any threats towards the school or other students, or school administrators. They also did not specify if the student had experienced previous disciplinary problems at the school.
The investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at 760-863-8990 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 760-341-STOP (7867). Callers can refer to incident file number LA17069004 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.