Search For Weapon Prompts Brief Lockdown At Phila. High School
By Walt Hunter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Police captain Malachi Jones says he's "grateful" that a 72-hour, around the clock investigation by his detectives and uniformed officers has resulted in the recovery of a stolen 9 mm. handgun that, the Captain explains, was in the hands of three juveniles and a 22-year-old adult for the past three days.
Jones says had the juveniles, all students, had brought the weapon into a school it could have been, in his words, "a disaster."
Two of the juvenile students, who CBS 3 is not identifying because of their age, were arrested this morning. A third juvenile is in custody and, police say, the adult is still being sought.
Police this morning ordered a brief, precautionary lockdown of Martin Luther King High School, shortly after it opened, concerned one of the teenagers might be enrolled there and attempt to attend class.
The lockdown was lifted after he was spotted and detained by police at the Fern Rock Station.
Captain Jones says fortunately there's no evidence the gun was used in any crimes or taken into any schools, expressing regret that too many teenagers consider possessing as weapon as a "badge of honor."
Jones says the charges filed against the three juveniles and adult will include receiving stolen property and weapons violations.
