Boys arrested for gun burglary near Moses Lake High School

MOSES LAKE — A group of teenage boys was arrested on Wednesday after they reportedly burglarized a home near Moses Lake High School and stole guns.

Moses Lake Police Department Chief Kevin Fuhr said the department received a report of a high school student who was reportedly seen off campus with a handgun.

“The report was made to the Moses Lake High School by the parent of a student that observed the handgun in the suspect's possession,” Fuhr said.

The 14-year-old suspect was located in a field about a block west of MLHS. The unidentified suspect was reportedly in possession of a handgun and claims he found the weapon in a field. Fuhr says evidence does not currently suggest the suspect had the weapon on school property. The suspect was booked into the Grant County Juvenile Detention Facility for second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.

“We would like to thank the public for contacting us about this incident and cannot stress enough how important it is that people contact law enforcement if they see, hear or have information about people bringing weapons to school,” Fuhr said.

The MLPD reports after further investigation of the incident officers learned the teen is one of three underage suspects who reportedly burglarized a home and stole three guns.

"The boys burglarized the house during school hours, taking guns, ammunition and hand tools. Although the case is still under investigation, and additional arrests are forthcoming, it appears at this time that all of the stolen items have been recovered," stated the MLPD in a news release. "Nothing in the investigation at this time suggests that any of the firearms reached the high school campus. There is also no evidence that there was any plan to hurt anyone at the school or bring the guns to school. At this point it appears to be a crime of opportunity, with a motive of theft."

Information was not released about the charges of the other two suspects, both of whom are 15 years old.