A Gainesville middle school was placed on “secure status” Monday while officers found two people accused of stealing a handgun from a nearby home.
A resident reported two suspicious people behind their neighbor’s house near Heartwood Road. Gainesville Police Department officers later found they had burglarized the home, stealing a handgun and two loaded magazines, according to a department social media post.
Officers established a perimeter around a wooded area where the suspects fled. They also heard the “distinct” sound of a handgun possibly being loaded.
The suspects attempted to flee again, leading to a brief foot chase and two arrests, according to the post.
One 13-year-old suspect had a loaded 9mm handgun in his waistband. The entire incident led Abraham Lincoln Middle School to be placed on a “secure status.”
“We at GPD wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the community member who promptly reported the incident in our neighborhood. Your quick action helped ensure the safety and security of our community, and directly prevented gun violence in our City of Gainesville,” the social media post said.
GPD emphasized the importance of safely storing potentially dangerous weapons in the home, where unauthorized individuals can’t access them.
“Safeguarding your weapons not only protects your family but also prevents potential misuse by unauthorized individuals,” the post said.
Contact Daniel Bednar at dbednar@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Danielbednar5.
Daniel Bednar is a first-year political science major and the Criminal Justice reporter for The Alligator. When he's not writing, you can find him scuba diving in the Keys or flying airplanes.
