Guns discovered by Sacramento-area school’s bus stop; students alerted staff to mystery case
Authorities on Thursday morning in Antelope found a case with guns near the bus zone area at Barrett Ranch Elementary School, which was searched for any other weapons.
In an emailed letter to families of students, Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District officials said authorities did not find any other weapons on campus. They also said all students were safe and the school was secure.
About 8:15 a.m., students went to the Barrett Ranch school office to report they saw a suspicious case in the bushes near the bus zone at Ocean Park Drive and Black Sand Way.
A school staff member quickly went to the area and found the case containing guns, district officials said. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office was notified. Deputies arrived, secured the weapons and took over the investigation.
District officials requested increased law enforcement presence at the school before the Thanksgiving holiday break.
Shortly before 8:45 a.m. Thursday, deputies were called after the school employee found the abandoned case “containing a firearm and a gun,” the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release Thursday afternoon. Sheriff’s officials did not provide any further details about the guns found.
The deputies arrived, secured the guns and searched the school. The Sheriff’s Office “is maintaining a high visibility at the school and is actively investigating,” according to the news release.
“Though law enforcement believes there was no threat to the campus, the district is taking this matter very seriously, and will continue to diligently work with law enforcement,” according to the district letter. “We are incredibly thankful to the students who saw something suspicious and reported it immediately to a trusted official. By doing so, our students helped keep our community safe.”
Detectives asked anyone who witnessed any activity in the area where the guns were found or who has home security camera video relevant to the incident to call the Sheriff’s Office at 916-874-5115. Tips can also be submitted through the Sheriff’s Office online tip form.
This story was originally published November 18, 2021 at 12:34 PM.
