A deeply disturbing video released by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in Albuquerque, NM, has ignited outrage and concern after showing two very young boys—believed to be just 7 and 9 years old—engaged in a standoff with deputies while holding a loaded handgun.
The jaw-dropping incident occurred on February 16, but the footage was only made public Thursday.
The five-minute video captures a tense and dangerous standoff as deputies confront two young children armed with a loaded handgun.
In the background, the children’s terrified parents can be heard screaming, pleading with them to drop the weapon.
The drone footage shows the two small children holding a firearm, one of whom pointed the gun directly at deputies after a non-lethal round was discharged to neutralize the situation. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
A second non-lethal round was fired as the children ducked behind a car, still refusing to relinquish the gun.
Deputies were ultimately able to safely disarm the children and restore order without resorting to deadly force.
WATCH:
#WATCH: As New Mexico Police Use Non Lethal Rounds to Safely Disarm Two Young Boys Holding Loaded Handguns ⁰⁰#Bernalillo | #NewMexico
Watch as New Mexico police use non-lethal rounds to safely disarm two young boys, ages 7 and 9, who were found holding a loaded handgun… pic.twitter.com/v5sm1RQWue
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 10, 2025
According to the press release:
“Today, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) held a press conference to highlight the work of its Behavioral Health Unit and announce a new initiative designed to address critical service gaps in the community.
The initiative aims to enhance BCSO’s ability to respond to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, particularly among vulnerable populations, including youth.
During the press conference, BCSO leadership and members of the Behavioral Health Unit shared insights into the unit’s mission, current services available to families throughout Albuquerque, and
A recent juvenile case was discussed as a key example of the ongoing challenges that law enforcement are facing. On February 16, 2025, deputies responded to an alarming situation involving two young children—ages 7 and 9—armed with a loaded firearm.
Utilizing BCSO’s drone program, deputies were able to monitor the situation in real-time, providing critical updates and enhancing situational awareness. This technology allowed deputies to secure the area swiftly and safely, ultimately preventing a potential deadly force encounter with the juveniles.
BCSO would also like to highlight the value of its drone program, which continues to prove instrumental in providing deputies with additional tools to manage diverse and high-risk situations. Technology, training, and specialized units like Behavioral Health are key to ensuring safer outcomes for all involved.
BCSO remains committed to improving response efforts for individuals in crisis. Today’s initiative represents a critical step in building stronger, community-focused behavioral health services and enhancing our mission of protecting and serving the residents of Bernalillo County.”
Watch the full 5-minute video:
Read the full article here