Thatcher police arrest 72-year-old man waving a gun at school dance party
Aug 18, 2018, 8:59 AM | Updated: 12:49 pm
(Public Domain Photo)
PHOENIX — Thatcher Police arrested a 72-year-old man who was seen brandishing and waving a handgun at a school dance held in the parking lot of Thatcher High School on Friday night.
According to a press release from the Thatcher police, Robert Layton, the 72-year-old suspect, approached the lot where the event was being held to complain about the loud music and began pulling wires out of speakers where the music was coming from.
This came after Layton allegedly took the school’s Principal, Jeffery Lords by the shirt and threatened him while waving around the pistol.
Bryson Wren, the event DJ, was able to wrestle Layton to the ground until authorities were able to disarm Layton.
According to a second release, Layton’s gun was in a holster during the encounter and loaded with a magazine, but no bullets were in the chamber.
About 150 students and faculty members, as well as Wren, were attending the dance. Police arrived within one minute from receiving a call on the incident.
Layton was brought to Mount Graham Regional Medical Center for evaluation.
Once medically cleared, Layton will be taken to the Graham County Jail to be booked.