PHOENIX – Three Arizona parents were arrested on Friday after fighting with law enforcement as they attempted to enter an elementary School to retrieve and “protect” their children during a lockdown. school, police said.

Thompson Ranch Elementary School in the Phoenix suburb of El Mirage was closed for about an hour Friday morning after someone allegedly saw a man with a gun near the school, the Department of Health said. El Mirage font.

Authorities said the school was later evacuated and the suspect, who was arrested by police, was never granted access to the campus. But during the lockdown and before students and teachers could be evacuated, parents started showing up. Police said the group of parents received notifications from their children inside the school.

Three parents, one of whom had a gun, were arrested on campus, El Mirage Police Lt. Jimmy Chavez said at a news conference Friday afternoon. Chavez said the three parents became “confrontational” with police and officers used a stun gun on two of the individuals.

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One of the parents was taken to hospital, Chavez said. He said several parents outside the school had expressed frustration at the incident and wanted to enter the building to protect their children.

“During the lockdown, it’s very important for parents to understand that no one will be allowed on campus,” Chavez said. “Several parents continued their agitation, they had made several statements that they were coming to campus to help protect their children. As a parent, I understand this philosophy, but there are procedures that law enforcement and school follow.”

The scare in El Mirage comes nearly three months after parents in Uvalde, Texas, argued with authorities outside Robb Elementary School while a gunman was inside. school. The police response to the shooting, which left 19 students and two teachers dead, was heavily criticized for authorities’ failure to confront the shooter for more than an hour.

The Dysart Unified School District released a statement after the incident reminding parents that no one can enter or exit a school during a lockdown.

“It’s important to remind our community that whenever a lockdown is in place, no one can enter or leave campus,” said Renee Ryon, spokesperson for the Dysart Unified School District. “This is done in partnership with law enforcement so they can clean every part of campus to keep all students and staff safe.”

The suspect, who caused the lockdown, has been taken into custody, Ryon said.

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According to police, initial testimony indicates that the man entered the school’s administration building around 10:30 a.m., but police determined that these statements were “unsubstantiated”.

“This morning at Thompson Ranch Elementary School, an individual who appeared to be carrying a handgun unsuccessfully attempted to gain access to campus through an exterior door,” Ryon said. “The campus was immediately locked down and the individual fled, never having gained access to the building.”

Officers from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and El Mirage and Surprise Police Departments responded to the scene, but the suspect had fled the scene, El Mirage police said.

Police said staff also found a “suspicious package” at the school. El Mirage Police Chief Paul Marzocca said there was no threat and technicians cleared the package, which was found to be free of explosives.

All of the children were safe and sent home while police investigate. School will continue as normal on Monday.