LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A student at Crenshaw High School in South Los Angeles was arrested today after a loaded gun was found in his backpack.
Staff was performing a random metal detection and search operation around 9:30 a.m. at the school at 5010 11th Ave. and the boy was asked to remove his backpack. A search of the pack revealed the handgun, according to Los Angeles School Police Department spokesman Sgt. Rudy Perez.
The officer on campus was notified but while the student was being escorted by staff to the school office he fled and ran into the surrounding neighborhood, Perez said.
A perimeter was set up and officers began searching the area, Perez said.
Officers went to the boy's home, where family members consented to a search, but the boy was not found, Perez said.
"While on the perimeter of the school, officers were notified by a concerned citizen that the subject ran into an abandoned property located one block north of the school," Perez said.
Officers and a police dog searched the property but the student was not located, Perez said.
"A short time later, a concerned citizen contacted officers on scene and advised them that they knew the subject," Perez said.
"The citizen told officers that the subject wanted to turn himself in. An arrangement was made between LASPD and the citizen for the subject to surrender at the local police station. The subject was safely taken into custody and arrested for possession of a stolen firearm."
The boy remained in custody early Wednesday night, Perez said.