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Former Sedona High School Student Arrested for Possession of Deadly Weapon in School Zone

Sedona Red Rock Junior-Senior High School, Sedona AZ, was the scene of a school lockdown after a former student, Thomas Zielinski, drove to the school with a firearm with the stated intent of confronting his girlfriend and another male.

Sedona AZ – The Sedona Police Department has begun the next phase of ensuring school safety following the arrest last Friday, August 30, of 19-year-old Thomas Zielinski on charges related to events at Sedona Red Rock Junior-Senior High School, Sedona.

“We have already conducted several debriefings,” says Chief Charles Husted, “and will continue in the coming weeks to further review emergency protocols both internally and externally. I am very pleased with our officers’ response to the incident at Sedona Red Rock Junior-Senior High School and the follow up investigation. At the same time, we always need to be vigilant and continue to maintain a high level of preparedness.”

On Thursday, August 29, Sedona Police Department School Resource Officer (SRO) Jackie McQuaid initiated a lockdown at Sedona Red Rock Junior-Senior High School. The Sedona Police Department provides the following timeline and explanation of the events before and after the lockdown:

SRO McQuaid received information that 19-year-old former student Thomas Zielinski could be coming to the school because of an incident between his girlfriend and another male student. The Sedona Police Department had information that Zielinski was known to possess a firearm, and when SRO McQuaid spotted Zielinski’s car in the student parking area, she initiated a lockdown at 11:47 in the morning.

Four minutes later, six Sedona Police Department officers arrived on scene at the school to look for Zielinski and shortly after, a call came in to the Sedona Police Department Communications Center that there was a possible active shooter at the school. The Sedona Police Department did not hear any shots fired, but followed the protocol to locate the suspect where it was believed he could be. Additionally, all surrounding agencies, including the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, Camp Verde Marshal’s Office and Yavapai Apache Tribe, arrived on scene, with the Coconino County Sherriff’s Office and Department of Public Safety cancelled prior to arrival.

While the school was being searched, Zielinski called the Sedona Police Department Communications Center to inform officers he was not on campus, but at a house in West Sedona. Upon finding him at this residence at 12:42 p.m., police ended the lockdown.

Officers brought Zielinski into the Police Department to be questioned and he was given a “no trespassing order” for Sedona Red Rock Junior-Senior High School. He was released because police had no grounds to hold him at that time.

However, at around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Zielinski violated the no trespassing order when he was seen on school grounds as a passenger in someone else’s car. This occurred while police were actively investigating Zielinski, gathering additional information on the events leading up to Thursday’s lockdown. That information included witnesses reporting seeing Zielinski at the high school on Tuesday, August 27, inside a car, recklessly handling a firearm.

The Sedona Police Department arrested Zielinski on Friday, August 30, 2019, at 2:34 p.m. during a traffic stop in which he was a passenger in the car in question.

Zielinski is charged with:

* Possessing a deadly weapon in a school zone.
* Recklessly handling and brandishing a weapon.
* Carrying a deadly weapon while in a car and being under 21 years old.
* Trespassing.

The Sedona Police Department located and confiscated the firearm related to his charges. Zielinski was released from Yavapai County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

“It’s important to note that the investigation shows that this incident was a result of a relationship dispute, not someone planning a mass attack. Additionally, the rapport our School Resource Officer has with administrators and students at the school was critical to ensuring the safety of everyone on campus,” says Husted.

4 Comments

  1. CCSO First Responder Exercise says:

    On Friday September 6th, 2019 the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting a Critical Incident Response Drill at Cromer School in the Doney Park area.

    The drill will occur between 5 pm – 9 pm and will involve personnel from Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Fire Department, Guardian Medical Transport, Flagstaff School District, National Park Service “Walnut Canyon “ and Summit Fire District.

    We want residents to be aware that this training will result in increased police and fire activity in the area. The training will be a reality-based exercise to provide first responders an opportunity to practice integrated response to critical incidents.

    The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Cromer School for providing the venue for this training.

  2. Bruce B. says:

    Are you kidding me? $5000 bail for a teenager who has been charged with three firearm-related felonies and forced a school into lock-down? This kid is facing serious prison time and a lifetime as a felon i.e. no more guns for you, Magoo.

    I want whatever this judge is smoking. This just shows the lack of resolve to punish gun crimes — they just want the guns.

  3. Retired Law Enforcement, Sedona says:

    I’m shouting this to you at Sedona High and community to be heard. Deaf ears and blind eyes and all that, you know.

    THANK YOU SEDONA SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AND POLICE OFFICER JACKIE MCQUAID FOR SAVING THE LIVES OF THIS MAN’S TARGETS AND THE SEDONA CHILDREN STANDING IN HIS WAY.

    THANK YOU TO THE POLICE OFFICER, STUDENT(S) AND ADMINISTRATION WHO CARED TO SAVE LIVES. HONOR EACH FOR SPEAKING UP. THOSE THAT DID NOT REACT APPROPRIATELY IN SCHOOL SHOULD BE TERMINATED BECAUSE IT SENDS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.

    MY CONDOLENCES TO HIS FAMILY, BUT YOUR ADULT CHOSE TWICE A FELONY. THANK GOD HE DIDN’T MURDER AND HE’S ALIVE. THANK GOD HIS TARGETS ARE ALIVE.

    FULL PAGE NEWS SHOULD BE HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL SAVED LIVES. THEY SHOULD NEVER SHOW THE 19 YR OLD’S PICTURE OR PROVIDE HIS NAME BECAUSE THIS IS ANY STUDENT AND EVERY STUDENT. IT’S ABOUT DECISION MAKING AND RESPONSIBILITY AND SUCCESSES.

    https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/authorities-took-out-dallas-shooter-media-no-credit/

  4. Jeff, Cottonwood says:

    I too applaud Sedona Eye for not showing that kids picture.

    I believe we don’t need more gun laws, we need excellent gun law enforcement like Sedona did. We need to support our officers and show them respect and that we appreciate their work. They have what they need to keep the peace if bureaucrats stay out of their way and let them apply the law equally to all. He’s charged with——
    * Possessing a deadly weapon in a school zone.
    * Recklessly handling and brandishing a weapon.
    * Carrying a deadly weapon while in a car and being under 21 years old.
    * Trespassing.
    The Sedona Police Department located and confiscated the firearm related to his charges. It’s my opinion that the gun should be destroyed not sold or returned to someone. That will make gun owners think twice before storing it incorrectly or using it incorrectly or gifting it incorrectly.

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