Juvenile with firearm arrested near Pueblo East High School

A juvenile in possession of a gun was arrested Thursday near East High School, police said.

The youth, who was not a student at East, was believed to have wanted to fight a student at the school, Sgt. Frank Ortega, a spokesman for Pueblo Police Department, said.

Police were notified after the juvenile had been spotted outside the school the day before, acting suspiciously. Further investigation revealed that the juvenile may have been in possession of a handgun, police said.

After he was seen near the school on Thursday, officers "immediately contacted the juvenile and found he did have a firearm in his possession," they said.

To ensure the safety of the students and faculty, East High School was placed on a secure perimeter during the incident but resumed a normal schedule once the area was safe.

The juvenile was taken into custody and booked into Pueblo Youth Center on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and juvenile in possession of a handgun.

The incident occurred two days after 19 children and two teachers were killed by a gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at Jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @jayreutter1.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Juvenile with firearm arrested near Pueblo East High School