ROY, Utah, May 1, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Police have announced that all four juveniles detained after a gun incident just off the campus of Roy High School on Tuesday morning will be charged with multiple weapons offenses.
Initially Tuesday, school district officials said police had advised that one juvenile with the group was found with a loaded handgun and had been booked into juvenile jail in the incident that briefly closed the school. Tuesday’s was the fourth gun incident related to the high school in a month.
On Wednesday the Roy City Police Department said the four juveniles were all to be charged in 2nd District Juvenile Court as follows: possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person, possession of a firearm on school property, possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor, threat of violence, possession of marijuana, and two counts of failure to stop at the command of a peace officer.
It wasn’t expressly clear from the brief press release, as names were not used because the suspects were juveniles, but it appeared all four were to be charged with the listed offenses.
Police have also detailed the incident, which happened just before 9 a.m. Tuesday in the area of 2025 W 4700 S, the neighborhood just east of Roy High.
The suspects were reportedly flashing gang signs at passing motorists. “One motorist had stopped to inquire what the juveniles were doing.
“The motorist advised that at this time one of the juveniles displayed a handgun. The motorist then called 911.”
Three Roy City police officers happened to be at the high school at the time and advised the school administration to enact a “lockout” protocol, which denies anyone entry to the school. The officers found the juveniles a few minutes later within a half-block of where the incident with the motorist was reported.
“The juveniles ran west (toward the school),” police said, “but were quickly apprehended before getting onto school grounds.”
On Tuesday, the Weber School District issued a statement noting the incident “comes on the heels of three others in which students were found in possession of firearms. They happened on April 11, 24 and 25.”
The first involved a gun in a student’s possession at the school, apparently loaded, the second, an unloaded gun in the possession of a student outside the school, the third, an unloaded gun in a student’s vehicle on school property. “None of these cases are related nor do they involve any threats, but it is very concerning behavior. We are not aware of any specific issues within the school. The possession of a firearm is strictly prohibited on school property.”
The district statement says extra Roy City police officers will be assigned to Roy High for the remainder of the school year. “We are placing special emphasis on the security of our parking lots and surrounding areas in an effort to prevent problems.”
Roy police said the department is working with the school to evaluate current safety procedures and advised anyone observing “suspicious or concerning behavior” to call 911 or the non-emergency dispatch number 801-395-8221.
