A 17-year-old in Manchester, Connecticut has been charged with first-degree threatening after he allegedly pointed a rifle-style Airsoft gun at 29 children and 10 adults at the Verplanck's Elementary School playground.
Local law enforcement said they received a report at around 1:18 p.m. on Jan. 13 about a person dressed in all black while he carried a duffle bag and what appeared to be a rifle.
"Witnesses reported the individual pointing the 'rifle' at the school, into classroom windows, and at students and staff," police said in a statement. Verplanck Elementary, as well as all Manchester public schools were put into lockdown.
As WFSB reports, police were able to locate the suspect quickly and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on the ground. The teen complied and was taken into custody.
Soon after, police noted the weapon was a rifle-style Airsoft gun, describing it as "very real looking." Despite the confusion, Lt. Nick Reinert from the Manchester Police Department said the response was the same.
"As you can see, the firearm was very real looking. It was a facsimile, but the way they make the guns these days, especially toy guns, they look real. So, it doesn't alter our response," said Lt. Nick Reinert, Manchester Police Department.
In a statement, Manchester superintendent Matt Geary said his decision to place all schools in lockdown was due to a second call police received indicating that there was a similar situation at Waddell Elementary School, which is located less than two miles away from Verplanck Elementary.
"Police investigated the Waddell situation and determined the call was about Verplanck and the caller had the wrong school," the superintendent said.
Manchester police released surveillance video from the school that showed the teen trying to get into the building and pointing the weapon at the halls. Besides the first-degree threatening charges, he faces 39 counts of reckless endangerment, 40 counts of second-degree breach of peace, possession of a weapon on school grounds, carrying a dangerous weapon, illegal use of a facsimile firearm and 29 counts of risk of injury.
In the video, the teen can be heard telling police: "This was supposed to be a suicide by cop." The teen's identity was not released due to his age.
Originally published by Latin Times.
