Colorado Springs high school student arrested after allegedly bringing gun to campus

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) arrested a Vista Ridge High School (VRHS) student Tuesday who was in possession of a firearm.

VRHS is located in northeast Colorado Springs, between Dublin Blvd. and E. Woodmen Rd.

In a statement released to the VRHS community, the school said the situation began after the first lunch on Tuesday when a student reported to an administrator that another student was showing off a firearm on campus. Administrators notified the security team and a CSPD, D49 school resource officer.

The security team, resource officer, and administrators began searching the campus for the student and the campus was placed on secure perimeter status. The search team determined the student had left school grounds.

According to VRHS, the student was found off-campus by the resource officer and taken into custody. The secure perimeter was then lifted, approximately 30 minutes after it was put in place.

CSPD reports the student was located at a business near the school and fled on foot after being contacted. Police said the student dropped a weapon during a brief pursuit and was then taken into custody without further incident.

The statement from VRHS said there is no indication the student intended to threaten, or harm, students or staff.

VRHS said they are determining the appropriate next steps for the student, who is subject to both school and law enforcement consequences. CSPD is working to determine how the student obtained the firearm, which was a handgun.