Missouri Police Thwarts Another School Shooting, Arrests Armed Teenager

ST. Louis County, Missouri, law enforcements have thwarted a possible school shooting, after arresting a 16-year-old boy who was armed with a handgun.

According to reports, the arrested came after the teen had posted a social media video showing him pointing a gun at the camera and tagging a high school.

The St. Ann Police Department received a tip Tuesday afternoon about a threat to Ritenour High School in St. Louis.

Police found the teen sitting in a car in the parking lot of Husky Academy, about a mile away from the high school with a fully loaded gun, according to NBC News.

“As our officer approached, the suspect ran and tossed the gun. He was quickly located and subdued,” police said in a statement.

Police Chief Aaron Jimenez said that the firearm, a fully loaded Glock handgun with an extended magazine, was recovered. The extended magazine holds 15 rounds.

The boy told authorities he got the gun from a friend but detectives are still looking into where the weapon came from.

The teen, as of the time of filing this report, had not been identified.

The police department said it believes “that the fast work to locate the suspect was due to the information we had been given which included the description of what he was wearing.”

“Had the information not been shared with authorities, the outcome could have been much different,” police said.

Jimenez said this incident “is a prime example of why we have to take this seriously every time.”

“It gives me goosebumps to think of what could have happened,” the chief said.

Gov. Mike Parson thanked law enforcement and the school district “for their quick and thorough response to prevent violence from taking place.”

“By law enforcement doing what they are trained to do, they undoubtedly prevented a horrible situation for Missouri students, teachers, and parents from becoming even worse.

“When we see something suspicious, we must not hesitate to report it like the brave Ritenour students,” he said in a statement.

The teen, a former student with the Ritenour School District, was charged with first-degree terrorist threat, resisting arrest, and unlawful use of weapons.

The chief said the police department has already investigated seven unsubstantiated school shooting threats since the beginning of the school year.

Three other people have been arrested in connection with those threats.