Deputies Use Drone to Safely Recover Gun from 7 and 9-Year-Olds

Incident Overview

• 🚨 Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputies responded to a home where two young children, ages nine and seven, were found playing with a handgun.
• 🚁 The incident was captured by a drone, providing deputies with a vantage point to de-escalate the situation.

De-escalation Tactics

• 💬 Deputies spent approximately five minutes attempting to verbally persuade the children to drop the gun.
• 💥 When verbal commands were insufficient, deputies deployed a non-lethal projectile at a wall to startle the children and create an opportunity to safely retrieve the weapon.
• 🎯 This tactic allowed deputies to move in and secure the firearm without resorting to deadly force.

Post-Incident Response

• ⚖️ The case was handed over to the behavioral health unit, and no charges have been filed against the children.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The investigation is focusing on how the children gained access to the firearm, with potential charges for adults under the Benny Harrow law.
• 🤝 In the three months following the incident, the family has been connected with case management, trauma therapy, medical services, and behavioral support.
• 🧠 Deputies noted that the children's behavior stemmed from learned actions, which are also being addressed.