Man Arrested After Allegedly Following Someone Into Louisiana School With Gun in Hand

NEW ORLEANS, La. (KPEL-FM) - A man was taken into custody on Tuesday, April 8, after he allegedly walked into a New Orleans grade school with a firearm.

According to New Orleans Police, 24-year-old Mario Harris walked into a building at ReNEW Delores T. Aaron Academy on Curran Boulevard with a gun.

Officers received a call about a suspicious person inside the school. The incident happened shortly before 11:00 am, and it immediately prompted a campus lockdown.

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Police said Harris is accused of following someone into the school, sitting down and "placing the gun down," saying he needed medical assistance.

The head of the school said the man entered the building, and placed the gun down, before running down a hallway and into a classroom.

Harris was detained by school staff until police arrived. Thankfully, no students or staff were injured.

“I’m just so thankful for the swift action of our staff to make sure that the gun did not leave the foyer of the school,” said Renew Academy CEO Tanya Bryant.

NOPD said that Harris would be booked on the following counts:

• Carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon on school property and in a firearm-free zone
• Unauthorized entry of a place of business
• Aggravated assault with a firearm

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