A Centralia High School student was arrested on May 9 for allegedly bringing a 3D-printed version of a high-caliber firearm to school in his vehicle that day, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in response to a Chronicle inquiry this week.
The student, identified by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office as 18-year-old Alberto Jose Ramirez Mejia, was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail on May 9 on one count of minor in possession of a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm at a school.
Charges were filed in Lewis County District Court on May 16.
Ramirez Mejia had been released from custody as of Wednesday, June 11.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office did not publicly release information about the incident until The Chronicle issued a public records request for the incident report on Monday, June 10, in response to tips from concerned community members.
According to the incident report, deputies were dispatched to Centralia High School at approximately 8:20 a.m. on May 9 after a school administrator reported that “they discovered a student had a firearm in his vehicle while parked on school grounds.” The firearm was secured by the school resource officer before deputies were called.
A deputy arrived at approximately 9:10 a.m. and contacted the student, who was identified as Ramirez Mejia.
Ramirez Mejia allegedly told the school resource office that the firearm was loaded with a full magazine and was sitting in the pocket of the driver’s door.
A resource officer located the firearm and secured it in the school safe before deputies arrived.
When questioned, Ramirez Mejia allegedly admitted to bringing the firearm to school and allegedly said he had brought it to school “for protection,” according to the incident report. He allegedly said “no” when asked “if there is anyone trying to cause him harm in any way.”
The firearm was ultimately identified as a 3-D printed model of a firearm similar to a Glock 19, with the firearm bearing “resemblance to the form and functionality of a Glock lower receiver,” but manufactured “through either a 3-D printer or other means of craftsmanship,” according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
A deputy later confirmed that the firearm was fully functional, though it did not bear the correct safety features and slide release mechanisms required on most firearms.
“Although these mechanisms were present, they were not correct and made the firearm unsafe to use,” according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
When asked how he acquired the firearm, Ramirez Mejia allegedly “became more and more reluctant and evasive to answer my series of questions,” the deputy stated in the incident report.
The deputy noted that “the only information I was able to collect from Alberto about how this firearm came into his possession was he purchased it through a cash deal and paid $500 to an unknown subject at a birthday party being held at an event center approximately two months ago in the Rochester area.”
The subject also allegedly sold Ramirez Mejia ammunition and a spare magazine.
The deputy noted that he “attempted numerous times to receive further information about this individual from Alberto,” but Ramirez Mejia allegedly “chose to remain silent and smirk while crying.”
Information on Ramirez Mejia’s next court date was not publicly available as of Wednesday afternoon.
Centralia School District Superintendent Lisa Grant issued the following statement on Wednesday, June 11:
“Student safety is the district and high school’s priority. School staff heard an unsubstantiated tip and reported it immediately. School administration and the school security officer responded quickly. The safety of students, staff and the campus were ensured immediately. School administration and the school security officer worked collaboratively with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office to address the situation.”
