9 and 7-Year-Old Brothers in Standoff with Deputies Over Loaded Gun

Standoff with Armed Children

• 🎯 A tense standoff occurred between deputies and two young brothers, aged 9 and 7, who were armed with a loaded gun.
• 🚁 Drone footage captured the 9-year-old hiding the weapon behind his back while his 7-year-old brother attempted to take it, leading to a struggle.
• 🏠 The incident took place in a neighbor's backyard in Albuquerque, with the boys wearing Minecraft and Star Wars themed pajamas.

Law Enforcement Intervention

• 🗣️ Deputies repeatedly issued commands for the boys to drop the weapon, emphasizing they were not in trouble.
• 💥 A non-lethal rubber bullet was fired by officers, landing between the two children.
• ⚠️ The 9-year-old then aimed the gun at deputies and pulled the trigger, but the weapon malfunctioned.
• 🏃‍♂️ Following another rubber bullet shot, deputies moved in to disarm the boys and take them into custody.

Investigation and Sheriff's Comments

• 📞 Sheriff John Allen stated that law enforcement had been called to the boys' home 50 times previously.
• 👨‍🏫 The sheriff indicated that the boys' incarcerated father taught them how to use the firearm.
• 🚁 The sheriff credited the use of a drone for providing real-time information that helped preserve the children's lives.
• ⚖️ While no arrests have been made, criminal charges are pending an ongoing investigation, and the sheriff is seeking to have the children placed in foster care.