Guns found at Delhi(CA) High School

DELHI -- Deputies are investigating the discovery of four loaded guns, including an assault rifle, near the campus of Delhi High School. The school in northern Merced County is on lockdown after a man looking for aluminum cans found the guns in a backpack across the street about 9 a.m., Merced County Sheriff's officials said.

The joint middle and high school complex remains locked down while deputies look into the situation, which has "overtones of Columbine," said Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin.

"The irony of this being the fifth year anniversary of Sept. 11 does not escape me," Pazin said. "We're hoping there isn't some sick or demented people or persons looking to take advantage of the anniversary."

Deputies said the guns, a Russian-made SKS 7.62 mm assault rifle with a loaded 30-round banana clip, a .380 Versa semiautomatic handgun, a .40 caliber semiautomatic Walther pistol and a .357 Magnum revolver, were found in the shrubs on Merced Avenue just across the street earlier this morning.

Detective Vince Gallagher said of the rifle, "This gun is made for a purpose. It's not hunting. It's killing humans. This is what the world uses to go to war."

Roughly 850 students remain on the 25-acre campus this afternoon while K-9 units and deputies search each classroom.

Update

Delhi students released

Merced County Sheriff's Detective Vince Gallagher holds an assault weapon found at Delhi High School on Monday (09-11-06) in Delhi. The school and Delhi Middle School are under lockdown. A backpack stuffed with weapons was found on school grounds. Modesto Bee/ Debbie Noda

By Michael R. Shea
BEE STAFF WRITER

Last Updated: September 11, 2006, 04:49:40 PM PDT

DELHI – Students have been released from the Delhi Educational Facility, after spending much of the day in lockdown as deputies investigated the discovery of four loaded guns, including an assault rifle, near the campus. The school in northern Merced County was on lockdown after a man looking for aluminum cans found the guns in a backpack across the street about 9 a.m., Merced County Sheriff's officials said.

The joint middle and high school complex remained locked down until 3 p.m. while deputies looked into the situation, which has "overtones of Columbine," said Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin.

"The irony of this being the fifth year anniversary of Sept. 11 does not escape me," Pazin said. "We're hoping there aren’t some sick or demented people looking to take advantage of the anniversary."

Deputies said the guns, a Russian-made SKS 7.62 mm assault rifle with a loaded 30-round banana clip, a .380 Bersa semiautomatic handgun, a .40 caliber semiautomatic Walther pistol and a .357 Magnum revolver, were found in the shrubs on Merced Avenue just across the street earlier this morning.

Detective Vince Gallagher said of the rifle, "This gun is made for a purpose. It's not hunting. It's killing humans. This is what the world uses to go to war."

Roughly 850 students remained on the 25-acre campus while K-9 units and deputies searched each classroom. The searches did not turn up any additional weapons, investigators said, and the students were released to their parents.

"The majority of the students are in the gym," senior Winona Wilson, 17, said via cell phone from the school. "They gave us water and snacks, and I think they're going to have a meeting soon.

"Some (students) are scared, some are excited," Wilson said. "A lot of us are on our phones or text messaging family." "I'm not really scared because of all the police officers that are here."

Police said fresh graffiti found this morning near the gym may be related to the case. It was a yellow "smiley face" that was frowning and had a bullet in the forehead.

Watch www.modbee.com for updates today, and see the whole story in Tuesday's Bee.

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