New London man charged with failing to safeguard gun discharged at middle school
New London — A New London man was arrested Wednesday and charged with being in possession of a gun that was taken by an 11-year-old boy who in turn took the weapon to the Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, where it accidentally discharged in a bathroom.
Richard Velazquez, 39, of 65 Connecticut Ave. was charged with criminal possession of a firearm and risk of injury to a minor.
[naviga:img class="img-responsive" src="/Assets/img/news/velazques-richard.jpg" alt="Richard Velazquez"/]
Richard Velazquez Courtesy of New London Police Department
On April 29, police responded to the school just after dismissal. The gun was fired in a second-floor boys' bathroom where one student apparently was showing it to a group of other students, according to police. No injuries were reported.
After the gun was fired, police said one of the students notified a teacher in the hallway that a cap gun went off. The teacher found a small revolver in the bathroom.
Responding police moved all remaining students to a secure location in the school while officers performed a search.
Police found a bullet on the floor of the bathroom, where it likely landed after ricocheting off either the cinder block walls or tile floor.
No other weapons were found during the search of the school.
Police charged the 11-year-old with possession of a weapon on school grounds, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm and reckless endangerment.
The student was issued a juvenile court summons to attend court with his parents. He was also suspended from school.
Three days later, police responded to New London High School and two teens were arrested for bringing a pellet gun to school, which prompted a lockdown there.
Velazquez, who has numerous drug convictions, was arraigned Wednesday in Superior Court in New London. He is being held on a $150,000 bond. His next court date is scheduled for July 27.
i.larraneta@theday.com
Twitter: @Larraneta
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.