Texas cops release harrowing footage of moment they confront armed boy, 16, who threatened to shoot up Mesquite school

Texas cops have released harrowing bodycam footage of the moment they confronted an armed boy who threatened to shoot up a school in Mesquite, Texas. 

The new video showed officers negotiated with the unidentified suspect, 16, after they were dispatched to Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy on February 19. 

The assistant principal of the school called 911 at 8.49am and told the dispatcher that the male student came into her office with a gun and refused to put it down. 

'I'm the assistant principal and a student just pulled a gun. I need someone here now. I am with him. He's fine. I'm calming him down. I need you to get someone here now,' the administrator said on the newly-released 911 call. 

Once police arrived, they approached the office, and told the vice principal to leave as they tried to negotiate with the 16-year-old boy. As they spoke to him, the boy was seen reaching down before cops fired their guns. 

A total of three officers fired 19 shots at the student - who did not fire his weapon. 

Bodycam footage revealed officer from the Mesquite Police Department as they responded to a call from an administrator of a male student with a gun at Pioneer Technology and Arts Academy on February 19 

The vice principal (pictured) of the school called 911 and told the dispatcher that the student was in her office with a gun and that she was placing the school on lockdown

After the officers told the administrator to leave, they tried to talk to the boy who did not respond to them before he reached for his bag. A total of three officers fired 19 shots at the boy and the student did not fire any shots, police said

In the 911 call, the assistant principal tells the dispatcher that she is going to put the school on lockdown, as her voice shakes and she tries to remain calm. 

'He's just standing, he won't put the gun down,' she told the dispatcher. 

The administrator then repeatedly tells the student: 'Uh uh no. No! Put it down! No! Put it down, no! Put it back on the floor!' 

Within two minutes, the first officer arrived at the school as the campus was placed on lockdown before two others joined him. 

They soon located the administrators office and saw her in the doorway speaking to the young boy. 

She quickly briefed the officers on what was happening before they told her to leave the office.

The officer, with his gun drawn, then approached the officer and says to the boy: 'What's going on today buddy?' 

'Can you talk to us?' 

The boy does not respond as the officer proceeds to say: 'We would like to help you, that's why we're here.'

'Is anything upset you today? Can you listen to me closely? Please do not reach for that gun,' the officer says. 

'We don't want anything to happen to you or anyone else. Can you do that for me?' 

The student continues to remain quiet as the officer says: 'What has upset you today? Maybe we can talk about it.' 

The student's identity has not been released because he is a juvenile. A Rossi 38 special revolver (pictured) was recovered by investigators from the boy

After gunfire was exchanged, police said that the student 'complied with commands and was taking into custody' before he was taken to a local hospital

The angel of the bodycam footage then changed as the student is seen sitting in a chair inside the office. 

'We just need you to step away from the gun buddy. You're not in trouble, okay?'

'We just need you to step away so we--,' an officer says before the student bends down and attempts to grab something from his bag on the floor. 

Officers then fire their guns at the student as the officer door stars to close. When they open it back up, the student is seen standing with a gun in his hand before the cops shoot again. 

In a press release, the police said that the student then 'complied with commands and was taking into custody' before he was taken to a local hospital. 

The Dallas Morning News reported that the student's legs were wounded in the gunfire and that police are unsure if he was shot or hit by shrapnel. 

The student's identity has not been released because he is a juvenile. A Rossi 38 special revolver was recovered by investigators from the boy. 

Police said he was taken to a Dallas County juvenile detention facility and charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and exhibition of a firearm. 

Witnesses who were interviewed said that the student came to school that day with 'intentions of harming others,' police said, but did not elaborate further.  

No other injuries were reported and two of the three officers involved were veterans, while one was an officer-in-training, the press release said

Police said he was taken to a Dallas County juvenile detention facility and charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault against a public servant and exhibition of a firearm

No other injuries were reported and two of the three officers involved were veterans, while one was an officer-in-training, the press release said. 

The school was searched by officers after the incident and the remaining students were taken to a nearby church and released to family members. 

'We are grateful that this incident resulted in no injuries to other students, faculty members, or any officers. Mesquite Police would like to commend the actions of administrators during this event and the school’s adherence to the standard response protocol,' the press release said. 

'These actions along with the immediate response from the Mesquite Police and Fire Departments ensured this outcome was not the tragedy that it could have been.' 

The school has gone on to install new safety measures to better secure the campus after students and staff returned on Tuesday. 

A release by the school said that it would take steps to 'harden' the school and keep it secure, like adding medal detectors, multiple cameras, security entry points and additional training for staff. 

'Please understand that we do not make this decision lightly, but believe it is essential to support the healing process for all involved,' the school said. 

'We are here for you as a community and a family, and we encourage you to reach out for support and to use this time to come together in reflection and care for one another.'