Boys Aged 9 and 7 in Armed Standoff, No Charges Filed [WATCH]

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) in New Mexico is defending its decision not to arrest two young boys, ages 7 and 9, who were involved in an armed standoff with deputies earlier this year, as reported by The New York Post.

Drone video released Thursday by BCSO shows the boys hiding behind an outdoor air-conditioning unit while holding a loaded handgun.

The incident took place on February 16 and was revisited during a press briefing where BCSO highlighted its behavioral health unit and a new initiative targeting juvenile firearm-related incidents.

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The video, approximately six minutes long, shows the boys dressed in themed pajamas — one in Star Wars attire and the other in Minecraft — attempting to remain undetected before being surrounded and safely detained by deputies.

No shots were fired, and the weapon was seized at the scene.

Sheriff John Allen issued a statement addressing the complex nature of the case, which he described as an intersection of juvenile crime, public safety, and mental health.

“We are taking important steps to close service gaps and expand our ability to work with juveniles involved in firearms or violent crimes,” Allen said.

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The Albuquerque Journal reported that deputies had responded to the boys’ residence multiple times before the incident. However, it remains unclear how the children gained access to the firearm.

No criminal charges have been filed, and the boys have not been removed from their home.

“Children are our future, and we know one side is going to say, ‘Lock them in jail,’” Allen said in a statement quoted by the Albuquerque Journal.

“They’re 7 and 9 years old. I told you before, numerous times in numerous interviews, that I understand the frontal lobe.”

BCSO emphasized that the decision not to arrest the boys was based on the children’s ages and the department’s broader effort to handle juvenile incidents through behavioral and mental health channels.

A sergeant with the BCSO told Fox News Digital that members of the department’s behavioral health unit are actively working with the boys’ families and “providing every recourse possible to assist the children involved.”

The department also praised the role of drone technology in resolving the situation without the use of deadly force.

“Our drone allowed deputies to secure the area swiftly and safely, ultimately preventing a potential deadly force encounter with the juveniles,” BCSO said in its statement.

Drone footage released of 2 boys armed with handgun Albuquerque, New Mexico,
In February 2025, two boys, ages 7 and 9, were involved in a tense standoff with Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after being found with a loaded… pic.twitter.com/QQkAFRrWaE

— #SeekingTheTruth JoshWho (@JoshWhoX) May 11, 2025

The new initiative, unveiled alongside the footage, aims to fill service gaps by combining law enforcement response with behavioral health support in cases involving youth and firearms.

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