DSUSD works to keep students safe after man drives onto elementary campus with gun

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) - A 27-year-old man was arrested at Andrew Jackson Elementary School last Thursday after police allegedly found a loaded firearm, a magazine, and multiple narcotics packaged for sale in his vehicle. Authorities said because the suspect was "considered armed and dangerous, detectives immediately detained him without incident to protect the safety of students, staff, and the surrounding  community."

He pleaded not guilty in court to the charges of felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of narcotics for sale.

According to school officials, students, families and staff were outside in the parent pick up area when the suspect drove and joined the parent pick up line.

"They moved students into a controlled area, which is what we trained for. And we were prepared to do a controlled release where we released the students individually one at a time to their parent and direct them in a safe direction. We didn't ultimately do that because the incident was resolved almost immediately," says Ephraim Jacobo, Director of Safety and Security with the Desert Sands Unified School District.

According to Everytown For Gun Safety, a nonprofit focused on gun safety, there have been 45 incidents of gunfire on school grounds nationally this year.

Dulce Cañas has been teaching at Jackson Elementary for 7 years. She says the school has monthly drills, and she also is apart of the safety committee on campus.

"We know what to do. The kids know what to do," Cañas says. Her two daughters also attend the school, but Cañas says receiving training as a teacher on school safety keeps her mind at ease.

"I feel very safe...I feel like our staff and our students are well aware of what we need to do when certain things happen," she says.

The suspect is due back in court May 20th.