Police: 2 carrying BB guns at Denver school in custody

KUSA-TV, Denver

Show Caption Hide Caption Police: Armed teens broke into Denver school Police say two juveniles believed to have been armed with long rifles and carrying backpacks are in custody after school employees spotted them inside an empty school building late Monday.

Two people were seen entering the empty middle school late Monday

Surveillance footage captured the suspects each carrying what had been earlier mistaken as a long rifle and backpacks

Police said the suspects are not believed to be students at the school

DENVER — Police say two suspect believed to have been armed with long rifles and carrying backpacks are in custody after school employees spotted them inside an empty school building late Monday.

School employees who first spotted two people entering Rachel B. Noel Middle School late Monday believed they were carrying long rifles and backpacks possibly filled with explosives.

Several hours after armored cars, SWAT teams, a bomb squad and media surrounded the school, the suspects were taken into custody and questioned by police.

In his second, before-sunrise press conference Tuesday, Denver Police Chief Robert White said police found the weapons and backpack carried into the school. The weapons were most likely BB guns, and the backpack only contained a computer.

White said it appears the suspects intended to burglarize the school.

Just after 9:00 p.m. a burglar alarm went off from Greenwood Elementary. When officers arrived on scene they discovered a broken window.

Surveillance footage captured the suspects each carrying a long weapon and backpacks. Police tried to use the school's public address system to try to communicate with them.

Denver Police Chief Robert White said the suspects, who are not believed to be students at the school, surrendered without incident.

Other schools in the area were checked by police, and it is not believed any other schools were involved. A reverse emergency notification also went out around 2 a.m. to surrounding areas, but no homes or buildings were evacuated during the investigation.

Noel Middle School was expected to open at its usual time Tuesday.

Contributing: The Associated Press