BUFFALO, NY— A Buffalo man was charged with criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds after bringing a pistol into an elementary school in the Town of Tonawanda, police said Friday.
According to officials, police rushed to Alexander Hamilton Elementary School at 1:30 p.m. Thursday after receiving a “past-tense” complaint of an armed person on school grounds.
A witness reported seeing a male, later identified as Anibal Sepulveda Jr., 40, leaving the school with a “visibly holstered and legally permitted firearm” that he uses for work, according to police.
According to authorities, Sepulveda was dropping off a youngster at the school and had “no malicious intent.”
According to a news release from the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda Union Free School District, the YMCA, which oversees the district’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program, was purportedly informed by a UPK student’s parent that another parent was on school premises with a pistol. They also stated that Sepulveda did not enter the building.
Sepulveda is expected to be arraigned on September 23.
The Town of Tonawanda Police Department is urging anyone with information regarding the incident to call (716) 879-6614 or its confidential tip line at (716) 879-6606.
