Riverside County student arrested after gun found at Perris high school

Lockdown at Orange Vista High School after loaded firearm discovered on campus

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:10pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single bullet casing on a dark background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the threat of firearms in schools.A single bullet casing, a stark reminder of the threat of firearms in schools, demands urgent action to ensure student safety.Perris Today

A high school student in Riverside County, California was arrested after officers found a loaded gun at Orange Vista High School in Perris. The school was placed on lockdown during the investigation, and the student was taken into custody and booked into the Riverside County Juvenile Detention Center.

Why it matters

Incidents of firearms being brought onto school campuses have raised major safety concerns for parents and the community. This arrest highlights the ongoing challenge of ensuring school safety and the need for proactive measures to prevent such incidents.

The details

According to the Val Verde Unified School District Police Department, the student was arrested around 10 a.m. at Orange Vista High School. No students were reported injured during the incident. Parents expressed worries about the situation, with one mother calling for metal detectors to be installed at the school, stating "this cannot happen again and again and again."

  • The student was arrested around 10 a.m. on April 17, 2026.

The players

Val Verde Unified School District Police Department

The law enforcement agency that arrested the student and investigated the incident at Orange Vista High School.

Christal Love

A mother of a student at Orange Vista High School who expressed concerns about the incident and called for metal detectors to be installed.

Ever Ruiz

A father of a student at Orange Vista High School who said the school, district, and principals need to address the recurring issue of guns being found on campus.

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What they’re saying

“Monday, there better be metal detectors. Because one gun, two guns, how many ever — should be no guns.”

— Christal Love, Parent

“They've got to do something. Principals got to do something. The school, the district have to do something. This cannot happen again and again and again.”

— Ever Ruiz, Parent

What’s next

School officials urged everyone to report suspicious or concerning activity to staff or law enforcement. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the WeTip hotline at www.wetip.com or by calling 1(800) 782-7463.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges schools face in maintaining campus safety and the need for proactive measures, such as increased security and student monitoring, to prevent firearms from being brought onto school grounds and protect the wellbeing of students.