2 High Schools Put Into Lockdown/ Suspect Arrested

On February 9, 2021 around 2:53 p.m. nearly 20 officers from different units within the Mesa Police Department were dispatched to Skyline High School for reports of a subject with a gun on campus.  The suspect, later identified as eighteen-year-old Elijah Platt, was said to be on the north side of the school.   

Skyline and Superstition High Schools were put into immediate lockdown for approximately 20 minutes while officers saturated the area to find Elijah.  With no luck, the lock downs were lifted, but officers continued to investigate.  

Two student witnesses were interviewed and stated they saw Elijah by the softball fields with a handgun in his waistband.  When Elijah saw them, he moved the gun to the interior pocket of his jacket.  

Skyline High School’s School Resource Officer (SRO) began reviewing campus security footage and verified the witness’s stories.  This SRO recognized Elijah from prior contacts and knows that he is not a student at Skyline High School.    

Around 4:36 p.m. officers were dispatched to the Coyote Landing Condominiums, located at 10136 E. Southern Mesa, AZ, for a subject threatening with a gun.  At 4:41 p.m. officers detained the subject and identified him as Elijah.  

One witness told officers that he observed smoke coming from where Elijah and a juvenile female were located on the property.  He went to see what was going on, suspecting illegal activity.  The witness held on to Elijah while police were called. 

While holding Elijah, the victim felt a gun in his waistband.  Another witness helped by removing the gun from Elijah’s possession.  

After officers arrested Elijah, they found illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia on his person, as well as a loaded handgun magazine.  

Elijah was interviewed and told officers the drugs were his.  He also admitted to possessing the handgun, saying that he found it in a bush.  In addition, Elijah gave illegal drugs to the juvenile female he was with, who had to be transported to the Hospital.  

Elijah was booked into jail for 12 charges and held on no bond status.  The charges are as follows: 

1ct Possession of Firearm During Drug Offense, ARS 13-3102A8, a class 4 felony.

1ct Narcotic Drug Possession, ARS 13-3408A1, a class 4 felony.

2ct Minor Carrying a Firearm, ARS 13-3111A, a class 6 felony.

1ct Carry Firearm on School Campus, ARS 13-3102A12, a class 6 felony.

1ct Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, ARS 13-3415A, a class 6 felony. 

1ct Interfering with School Session, ARS 13-2911A2, a class 1 misdemeanor.

1ct Assault, ARS 13-1203A3, a class 1 misdemeanor.

1ct Disorderly Conduct, ARS 13-2904A1, a class 1 misdemeanor.

1ct Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, ARS 13-3613A, a class 1 misdemeanor.

2ct Trespassing, ARS 13-1503A, a class 2 misdemeanor.