Police and school district officials said they found no evidence that the two students who brought loaded guns to Redondo Union High School had any plan to commit campus violence.
Despite that, police and school officials said extra security measures would continue until Jan. 19 in the form of a police presence and third-party security, according to a joint statement.
Police were called both on Dec. 4 and on 5 after receiving calls about a gun on campus. While the first student was found and detained quickly, police ordered a campus lockdown for about an hour the next day until they detained that student and found the weapon.
The Redondo Beach Unified School District kept the campus closed on Dec. 6 so police could check the campus for weapons using K-9 dogs in classrooms, restrooms, lockers and common areas.
Both 15-year-old sophomores were detained and charged by the the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for bringing loaded weapons to campus, police said, but the specific charges filed and the students’ identities were not disclosed.
Lt. Cory King has said that neither student was a documented gang member.
On Dec. 5 call, officers and administrators went to the student’s classroom and found the student’s backpack, but not the student. The weapon was not inside the backpack, Redondo Union High School Principal Anthony Bridi said during an online meeting with parents the following day. They searched restrooms and other areas before finding the student right outside the classroom with the gun, he said.
Investigators served search warrants “at various locations in Redondo Beach and the surrounding area,” but did not find any additional firearms, police said.
School officials said they have removed the metal detectors at entrance and exit points to the campus, but students returning from winter break will see police officers in the mornings through Jan. 12 and guards with a third-party security firm on campus through Jan. 19.
After that day, district officials said, several part-time campus supervisors will work more hours to keep an increased presence on campus.
“We are working with RBPD (the Redondo Beach Police Department) to set up several random searches on campus (lockers, backpacks, classrooms) with the K-9 search dogs until the end of the school year,” Superintendent Nicole Wesley said in the district’s portion of the statement. “These are random and dates will not be disclosed in advance of the search.”
School officials have said the two students would likely be expelled.
Police and school officials asked students and parents to remain vigilant. Anyone with information regarding the two gun incidents, or others, were asked to contact Redondo Beach police at 310-379-2477 or by text at 310-339-2362. An anonymous tip can be submitted by email to [email protected].