Suspect arrested after McAllen Memorial lockdown

Law enforcement charged a juvenile male with possession of marijuana and criminal trespass after an incident that prompted a lockdown at McAllen Memorial High School on Monday.

McAllen ISD Police Chief Joey Silva said officers were doing a regular perimeter check just after 2:30 p.m. Monday when they spotted a person on the northside parking lot of the campus; a release from the district indicated police also received a call about that person.

“As the officer tried to make contact, the individual was elusive; at one point the individual turned toward the officer, went into his satchel — he had a satchel — and at that point the individual began running,” he said. “Out of an abundance of caution, not knowing what was in the satchel, a lockdown was commenced.”

That individual, who Silva declined to name, was apprehended after a brief foot chase.

A release from the district notes that the individual is not a student at the district. Silva said there was no threat to anyone on the campus and the release said the individual was not armed, although police reacted as if he might be “out of an abundance of caution.”

Memorial’s lockdown was lifted within an hour of the chase, and the school was back to normal before students were released at 4:15 p.m.

The release noted that the charges the individual is facing may change.

The district held a brief press conference on the incident Monday afternoon. District Spokesperson Mark May said one of the goals of the press conference was to head off the spread of false information about the incident.

“We know that in the age of social media and rapid texting that a lot of misconceptions and rumors can get out there,” he said.

Rumors about the incident certainly seemed to flourish on Facebook. Videos purporting to show the chase showed individuals running through parking lots at the campus, including one officer with their firearm drawn.

An especially popular rumor was that there had been some sort of shooting; May said that was completely false and that no shots were fired. 

The press conference was light on details. Many facts about the incident not disclosed there were made public in the district’s release, sent out shortly afterward.

Both Silva and Superintendent J.A. Gonzalez did, however, compliment officers who responded to the incident.

“The McAllen ISD Police Department did a tremendous job putting their training into play to ensure that our students and our staff are safe,” Gonzalez said. “I also want to extend our gratitude to McAllen PD for working in conjunction with our police department to make sure that our students and our staff are safe.”