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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A public schools janitor is in some hot water after police say he pulled a gun and threatened to shoot a boy outside an elementary school in the South Valley late Thursday.

Metro Court Judge Christine Rodriguez released Ray Lopez, 32, on his own recognizance Saturday after he was jailed on charges of unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon on school premises and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police say Lopez – an Albuquerque Public Schools custodian – chased several boys around Barcelona Elementary School before arming himself with a loaded gun and threatening to shoot one of them.

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Lopez was arrested around midnight Thursday.

The complaint describes the boys as juveniles but it is unclear how old they are, and a police spokesman did not respond to requests for comment Saturday.

An APS spokeswoman also did not respond to requests for comment.

According to a criminal complaint filed in court, an APS police officer called Albuquerque police after detaining several boys and Lopez at the elementary school located near Isleta and Blake SW.

Lopez, who said there had been recent break-ins, told police he chased the boys and pulled a gun on them because he thought they were breaking into the portable buildings.

Police say video surveillance didn’t show the boys anywhere near the portables and they claimed to have gone to the school to take a photo “because there was a container with ‘Mario’ on it.”

The boys told police they ran when Lopez began to chase them because he was holding a gun and yelling, “I’m gonna shoot you! Do you wanna die tonight!”

Police say Lopez gave conflicting versions of his story during questioning.

Lopez told police he just finished his “custodial duties” and was about to head home when he saw a “light flash” from the portable classrooms.

According to the complaint, Lopez went to see what was going on when he saw two of the boys who “appeared suspicious” and ran off.

“Mr. Lopez states he went to his vehicle and grabbed his handgun,” a detective wrote.

Lopez told police he chased the boys around with the gun in his hand before he lost them.

Police say Lopez found one of them soon after and “chambered a round” because the boy “reached towards his waistband.”

“He told the male to stop because he did not want to have to shoot him,” a detective wrote.

“I asked Mr. Lopez if he saw a weapon and he stated no.”

Lopez told police he was in fear for his life during the chase.

In Lopez’s vehicle, police say they found a gun with a fully loaded magazine and a round in the chamber.