LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A North Las Vegas student was arrested last week for reportedly bringing a gun onto the campus of Democracy Preparatory Academy.
According to a report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, an officer was dispatched on a call regarding a person with a gun at the school just after 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 7. Details of the call advised that the incident involved a loaded gun in a student’s backpack on school property.
A Metro officer arrived at the school, contacted school administration and was advised that the suspect was Xzaviar Rayford, 18. School officials said that they recovered the firearm before police arrived.
Two detectives conducted an interview with the Democracy Prep security supervisor, who said that the school’s music teacher initially contacted the Dean of the school in reference to “students playing dice in the restrooms.” The students involved were identified on surveillance video, removed from their classrooms and brought to the front office.
When questioned, each of the students denied possessing any dice. The security supervisor then began to search their backpacks, noting that Democracy Prep is “not subject to Clark County School district policies and practices” in that regard. When Adams retrieved the suspect’s backpack, he told police that Rayford “closed distance on him as if to stand over him,” according to the report.
Adams told police he repeatedly instructed Rayford to back up, leading to the suspect admitting that there was a gun in the bag. Rayford was handcuffed by school security staff and the backpack was taken to a separate room.
Adams said he put on latex gloves before retrieving the gun. He told police that it had a loaded magazine and no round in the chamber. He added that the backpack in question also contained Rayford’s student identification.
Police read the suspect his Miranda rights and placed him under arrest. Rayford declined to answer any questions from investigators. The firearm in question was a Glock 43 and a records check indicated that the weapon had been reported stolen.
Rayford is facing charges of possessing a dangerous weapon on school property and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. He has an appearance in Clark County Justice Court scheduled for March 14.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.
