A former student is suspected of being the same armed man spotted at an Anthem school, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputy Joaquin Enriquez said they questioned 18-year-old Luis Barragan in connection with the Monday incident, which forced three area schools on lockdown.
MCSO has Luis Barragan in custody reference to the incident from Boulder Creek High from earlier today. pic.twitter.com/C5IBW27sja
— Deputy Enriquez (@DeputyEnriquez) March 1, 2016
Deputies said Barragan went to the school to tell his ex-girlfriend that he was going to commit suicide. He showed her a bullet and then left to walk back to his vehicle, which is when the girl's mother saw him handling a gun and then driving away from the school, officials said.
The mother told the school's front office around noon that she saw Barragan with a gun leaving Boulder Creek High School.
“I know he's a troubled kid, I get that all the time. And he's been with this girl off and on and they're always breaking up and having issues. So, I know he's been going through a lot lately,” student Amber Johnston said about Barragan.
MCSO said there was no shooter on campus and that students are safe.
“Our teacher, handled very well, covered the glass with paper so no one could see in, locked all the doors and had the students be quiet and sit at our desks. He was very calm and said everything is going to be alright and that gave me confidence it was going to be alright,” student Murphy Hartmann said.
Kids at Boulder Creek are being systematically released by Law Enforcement to ensure their safety. The lockdown has been lifted.
— Deputy Enriquez (@DeputyEnriquez) February 29, 2016
"The safety of your child is a priority of the Deer Valley Unified School District. We will always take every precaution possible to ensure the safety of our students and staff," the Deer Valley Unified School District said in a letter to parents.
“I knew I was safe, but there's always that thought maybe you're not, but for the most part I thought I was safe,” student Tristen D’Angelo said.
Boulder Creek High School, Anthem School and Gavilan Peak Schools were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure, but all students were later dismissed on time, school officials said.
“I knew I was safe, but there's always that thought maybe you're not, but for the most part I thought I was safe,” student Tristen D’Angelo said.
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