RSS FeedGRANTS - The combination of the breakup of a teenage romance, a family argument over money and an accidentally discharged firearm led to a public school lockdown, a stolen van and a police manhunt on Dec. 5.
 Grants High School security guard Dick Allen is on the job at the Roosevelt Avenue school gate. Families are waiting to gain entry while the school was on lockdown most of the day Friday. Beacon photo by Kathryn Marmon |
Kilino Marquez, superintendent of the school district, said that he had been informed that Prewitt had fired a shot from a gun in his family home, following an argument about money. “We were told by the police that he had a falling out with his girlfriend, who lives in California. He was allegedly demanding money from his parents so that he could go to California to see the girl,” he said.
Marquez reported that he had been informed by the police that Prewitt had left the family home, but was believed to be still in the community. “We decided to take precautionary measures because the youth was known to have brothers in district schools. We ordered a lockdown of all schools in the district to prevent any further problems,” he said.
The educator went on to say that there was never any threat to GHS or other schools and that the lockdown went smoothly. Ironically, there had been a drill for a lockdown at GHS ten minutes before the actual lockdown was ordered.
Early reports indicated that Prewitt had left his home running toward Los Alamitos Middle School, thus alarming the school authorities. As it turned out, the youth allegedly ran to his sister's home, where he subsequently stole a van and took off. “Late in the day we learned that Prewitt had left the state, so we called off the lockdown,” Marquez said.
A source in the GPD divulged that Prewitt had been picked up in Needles, Calif., pursuant to an arrest warrant late on Friday night.
“We were told that the boy pulled out a gun in his family's presence and that his mother attempted to take it away from him. In the ensuing struggle, the gun discharged accidentally. Prewitt then panicked, ditched the gun and took off running,” the source related.
“He showed up at his sister's home across town later and stole the van,” he added.
Marquez indicated that, in addition to any legal proceedings, Prewitt faces a hearing by the school district.
GHS Principal Alton Autry said, “All our students got home from school safely and nothing actually happened on our campus.”
Marquez credited Personnel Director Dwayne Toivanen with coordinating information from Central Office. “With the advent of technology like the Blackberry, we school officials attending a conference in Albuquerque were kept constantly up-to-the-minute on events transpiring in Grants,” he said.
Prewitt was arrested alone in Needles, Calif., early on Dec. 6, according to a California State Police source. He will be held there until an extradition can be arranged. As of press time, there was no word from Grant Police Department on what exactly Prewitt is going to be charged with and when he will be in Cibola County.
By Diane Fowler
Beacon staff writer
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