(Rocky Ford, Colo.) – A woman and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on weapons charges following an investigation into a threat made during a school sporting event in September.
According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on September 30, the Rocky Ford Police Department (RFPD) received a report that a 16-year-old boy brought a gun to a Rocky Ford Junior/High School sporting event in response to alleged threats from a younger teenager. The CBI said the RFPD had previously investigated the younger teen on two separate occasions, but was unable to confirm any credible threats to the school.
To ensure the safety of students and staff, RFPD requested assistance from the CBI, which was supported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Denver Division. The CBI said its agents helped provide additional security for the school and interviewed witnesses who reportedly saw the 16-year-old suspect carrying a gun on school grounds. ATF Denver deployed a certified K9 team to search the school for weapons and explosives.
The CBI and RFPD conducted numerous consensual searches and executed search warrants, and as a result, ammunition and other evidence was recovered. By October 1, the CBI said the joint investigation had not revealed any credible threat to the school.
CBI special agents continued the investigation in the following days, analyzing evidence and conducting follow-up interviews. The investigation revealed that the 16-year-old suspect was in possession of several weapons before and on the day of the incident. Investigators also determined that a woman, Malena Gutierrez of Rocky Ford, intentionally helped the teen obtain the weapons.
While the investigation did not confirm that the teen had a gun during the school sporting event on Sept. 30, there is sufficient evidence to support criminal charges against both individuals.
Gutierrez was arrested on two felony charges:
- Providing or allowing a juvenile to illegally possess a handgun
- Contributing to the delinquency of a minor
The 16-year-old was arrested for:
- Possession of a dangerous or illegal weapon (5th degree felony)
- Possession of weapons by an ex-felon (5th degree felony)
- Possession of a Handgun by a Juvenile (Second Degree Misdemeanor)
The CBI, Rocky Ford Police Department and ATF Denver Division indicated their appreciation to the community and school staff for their cooperation during the investigation.