Thermal Elementary School Student Brings Semi-Automatic Gun To School

A 12-year-old boy was detained today after he brought a semi-automatic, large-caliber handgun and ammunition to a Thermal elementary school, a sheriff’s deputy said.

Deputies responded at 10:54 a.m. to a report of a person with a gun at Westside Elementary at 82225 Airport Blvd., said Deputy Herlinda Valenzuela of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

A student at the school from Coachella was in possession of the weapon and ammunition and was taken to juvenile hall, where he faces possible charges of bringing a firearm on school grounds and ammunition.

“It appears no one was in danger at any time,” Valenzuela said, adding that investigators are still trying to determine why the boy brought the gun to school.

Stay with News Channel 3 and KESQ.com for more on this developing story.