BUCKEYE, Arizona — A chaotic scene unfolded at Freedom Elementary School on April 23, 2025, just before 4:00 p.m., during afternoon dismissal, leading to the arrest of four individuals, including 19-year-old Iriel Rivera, who was found with a handgun. The Buckeye Police Department responded swiftly to reports of a fight and an armed subject on school grounds near Sundance Parkway, detaining Rivera along with three juveniles—a 15-year-old female, a 17-year-old female, and a 17-year-old male. None of the suspects are students at the school, and no injuries were reported.

The investigation revealed that the suspects knew each other and had arrived to pick up relatives attending the school when the fight broke out. Rivera reportedly lifted his shirt to display a handgun in his waistband, escalating the situation. He was booked into jail on multiple weapons charges, while the juveniles face charges of disorderly conduct and disrupting an educational institution. The rapid containment of the incident was attributed to vigilant community members who promptly called 911, a point emphasized by Buckeye Police in their statement on X, where they reiterated the importance of reporting suspicious activity.

While the police response was effective, the incident raises broader concerns about school safety in Buckeye. This isn’t the first time weapons have been involved in school-related incidents in the area—on April 12, 2023, a 13-year-old boy was arrested near Inca Elementary with a BB gun, and on March 17, 2022, a 15-year-old was detained at Verrado High School after bringing a gun to campus. These recurring events suggest potential gaps in preventative measures, such as inadequate monitoring of non-students on school grounds during dismissal or insufficient community programs to address youth violence. The fact that the suspects were there to pick up relatives also questions whether schools have clear protocols for managing visitor access during high-traffic times.

The Buckeye Police Department encourages the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity by calling 911. This incident underscores the community’s role in maintaining safety, and we must continue to work together to protect our schools.