I-TEAM Uncovers Shocking Discovery: Over 100 Guns Discovered on Maricopa County School Campuses Since 2019

In light of increasing threats in schools, the I-Team has investigated how frequently firearms are brought onto campuses in Arizona. Surprisingly, this critical data remains untracked by the state.

On February 2, 2023, an ordinary day at Red Mountain High School escalated dramatically. During seventh hour, a student alerted an assistant principal about a gun he had seen in class. When the administrator attempted to address the situation, the suspect was already missing from his eighth-hour class.

The urgency escalated quickly. School security and administrative staff began searching the campus while two police officers aided in the effort. They eventually located the student, but not before he fled, showing the grip of a tan and black handgun. This incident forced the school into lockdown mode.

The outcome was fortunate. The student was apprehended off campus without the weapon, which was later discovered hidden beneath a tree. However, this incident mirrors a troubling trend: over the past four years, similar occurrences have been reported more than 100 times in Maricopa County alone.

Records obtained by the I-Team reveal that 16 of Arizona’s 20 high school districts have seized at least one gun since 2019. Mesa Public Schools, the largest district, reported a dozen confiscations, with half occurring in the last school year.

“Weapons in schools have been a longstanding concern,” said Allen Moore, Director of School Safety and Security for Mesa Public Schools. This prompted the district to implement a weapons detection system earlier this year to enhance campus security.

Moore shared that their detection system identified a firearm shortly after being deployed at Mesa High School. “About 20 minutes into the activation, a student entered with a gun,” he stated, highlighting the urgent need for better preventative measures.

In the West Valley, the Tolleson Union High School District reported 15 gun seizures since 2019. “We worry about the guns we haven’t detected,” Superintendent Jeremy Calles noted, reflecting a widespread issue across schools in the region.

The Phoenix Union High School District topped the list with at least 44 guns found on its campuses, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Data obtained by 12News indicates that this problem afflicts a significant number of schools, with 16 districts reporting gun confiscations.

This lack of tracking is concerning. Tom Horne, Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, expressed shock that the state does not log such incidents. Arizona relies on an optional survey system for reporting, which has proven inadequate. Many districts frequently skip responding, leading to significant discrepancies in data.

Horne emphasized the need for a more structured approach, stating, “We should be enforcing the law against bringing guns to schools more effectively.” He supports legislation that would mandate districts to report gun seizure information to the state.

Calles shared a practical perspective, suggesting an overhaul of the reporting process, advocating for a cloud-based system designed to facilitate data submission and provide meaningful insights to enhance school safety efforts.

This investigation sheds light on the pressing issue of gun presence in Arizona schools, elucidating a need for better tracking and reporting mechanisms that can ultimately lead to improved safety for students and staff alike.