Pajaro Valley High student arrested after loaded gun found in backpack

A Pajaro Valley High School student was arrested by Watsonville Police on Friday morning after a loaded gun was found in the student's backpack, police reported.

According to a statement posted to the Watsonville Police Department's Facebook page, school officials called in shortly before 11 a.m. with reports that a 17-year-old student was possibly armed.

The Watsonville Police

Department's School Resource Officer assigned to Watsonville High School gathered information and quickly coordinated additional officers to respond to the Pajaro High School campus.

Within minutes, the resource officer located the student and found a loaded gun in the student's backpack. Watsonville Police Department spokesperson Michelle Pulido told the Sentinel that the student was arrested Friday and will be taken to Juvenile Hall after the student was booked.

The case is still under investigation.

“We're thankful that our partnership with the school district resulted in a safe resolution to this incident,” wrote Watsonville Police Department staff in the Facebook post.

Pajaro Valley High School Principal Consuelo Mason sent a message to the school's families Friday afternoon, describing the incident. She said that after school officials were made aware of the threat on campus, she immediately contacted the district's superintendent and assistant superintendent to initiate threat assessment protocol, which included immediately contacting Watsonville Police.

“Please know that our campus is safe and instructions resumed as normal,” Mason wrote.

She advised that parents or students that have information regarding campus safety should use the STOPit app. For details, visit pvhs-pajaro-ca.schoolloop. com. She added families with additional questions or concerns about general campus safety procedures can contact the school's main office at 831-728-8102.