A 17-year-old who is accused by police of pulling a gun on three Liberal Arts and Science Academy students last week, less than a mile from LBJ High School, said he was only joking when he robbed them of their phones, wallets and other belongings, an arrest warrant affidavit said.

Kelvin Holmes, 17. Austin Police Department

Kelvin Lance Holmes faces a charge of aggravated robbery and was in Travis County Jail on Tuesday with bail set at $20,000.

Holmes told police he saw the three students jump over a brick wall in the 7100 block of Crystalbrook Drive just before 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, the affidavit said.

He followed them over, and found them smoking marijuana, the document said.

When the students refused to share with him, Holmes pulled out a handgun, cocked it and made them hand over their belongings before releasing them, the affidavit said.

The victims were able to flag down an Austin ISD officer in the area who quickly took Holmes into custody.

The affidavit said Holmes told the victims he was only joking and he tried to return their property after the officer arrived.

The gun was not loaded at the time of the incident, the affidavit said.

LASA Principal Stacia Crescenzi and LBJ High Principal Sheila Henry sent an email to parents a few hours after the robbery, saying patrols in the area would be beefed up as a result of the incident.

LBJ High and other campuses across the Austin school district are closed this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.

"No one was injured during the incident," the email said. "We are glad our students are safe and we commend our officer for acting quickly and resolving the situation peacefully."

Aggravated robbery is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

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