Two Albuquerque High students and a former student were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm on school property.

Rifle, 2 loaded pistols found in car with 2 students, former pupil

Two Albuquerque High School students and one former student were arrested after Albuquerque Public Schools police searched their car in the school parking lot on Tuesday and found a rifle and two pistols, one them a semiautomatic, and both loaded.

All three teens were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm on school property. The two students will also face school discipline, which could include suspension and/or expulsion. The trio were transported to the Juvenile Detention Center.

According to the police report, several individuals notified APS police that a car in the parking lot contained weapons. Officers approached the vehicle with their service guns drawn and ordered the occupants out and onto the ground.

The rifle was found in the vehicle’s trunk, one handgun was found in the glove box, and the other handgun was on the floor of the vehicle.

Principal Tim McCorkle sent a message to all AHS students and their families thanking those who came forward “to let us know about this situation in an effort to keep our campus safe.”

The ongoing investigation, he said, is being handled by APS police as well as the Albuquerque Police Department.

In a follow-up letter sent by McCorkle on Wednesday, he said “In light of the mass shooting at a Florida high school last week, I understand that tensions are running high. But I want to assure you that we are doing everything we can at Albuquerque High School to keep students safe.”

The letter mentioned some of those safety measures, including a site safety plan with detailed instruction for dealing with an active shooter situation; regular lock-down, shelter-in-place and evacuation drills; and having an armed police officer on campus as well as several security guards.