Man with rifle arrested at Mission Veterans high school

Mission police arrested a 19-year-old man with a loaded M4 rifle at Mission Veterans Memorial High School on Wednesday morning, though it’s not clear whether that man actually meant to threaten the school.

Police Chief Cesar Torres told reporters the department received a call about someone in a car wearing a mask with a rifle at 10:27 a.m. Wednesday morning.

“The officers acted swiftly and we were able to take him into custody,” Torres said.

Torres did not say the individual’s name, nor what charges he’s facing. Officers did not find a mask, he said.

According to Torres, the department currently thinks the man was at the school to pick up his brother, though he didn’t say why the man had a rifle.

“We haven’t interviewed him. Our criminal investigation unit is interviewing him as we speak,” Torres said.

Torres commended Mission CISD, which went into a lockdown over the incident.

“I want to make it very clear, that (these) kind of threats, we don’t take them lightly. And also, our main priority for all of us standing here is the safety of our kids, safety of the students and the school staff,” he said.

A release from the school district late Wednesday morning said the school’s lockdown had been lifted, though it remained in a “hold pattern.”

“Parents wishing to pick up their students may now do so,” it read.

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Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information and photos.