A potentially deadly situation was narrowly avoided Sunday morning after a dog discovered a backpack containing a gun and ammunition near Aptos High School in coastal California. The discovery, made just days before students were set to return to campus, prompted a major law enforcement response and renewed concerns over school safety in the state.
According to local reporting from KSBW, the backpack was found by bystander Mikey Perez while walking his dog, Bear, near the school in Aptos, about 30 miles south of San Jose. Perez said Bear abruptly stopped and began pointing toward a suspicious object off the walking path, behavior that immediately raised concern.
As Perez approached, he noticed a black backpack partially concealed. Using a stick to inspect it, he quickly realized something was wrong after feeling the weight and seeing what appeared to be a firearm magazine. Perez later told reporters that the weapon appeared to be heavily modified, possibly altered to function as fully automatic, with identifying markings removed. A ski mask was also found nearby, intensifying fears about the intent behind the stash.
Perez described his dog as a hero and said the situation could have ended far differently had the backpack gone unnoticed. He speculated the weapon could have been linked to criminal activity or even a planned school attack. Law enforcement officials have not confirmed any specific intent but acknowledged the seriousness of the discovery.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office responded immediately. Sgt. Ryan Farotte told KSBW that authorities understood the community’s concern and emphasized that the safety of students and staff was their top priority. Deputies increased their presence at Aptos High School on Monday as a precautionary measure.
On Tuesday, the sheriff’s office announced that a juvenile suspect believed to be connected to the firearm, ammunition, and mask had been arrested. Investigators determined that a fight involving firearms had occurred near the school during winter break, outside of school hours. Authorities stated the arrested juvenile is not a student at Aptos High School.
Based on proximity and other evidence, investigators believe there is a strong likelihood the weapon found Sunday was connected to that earlier altercation. However, officials stressed they are not ruling out other possibilities and are continuing to investigate all angles. A heightened law enforcement presence will remain on campus until authorities are confident there is no ongoing threat.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about public safety, youth violence, and the failure of strict gun-control states like California to prevent dangerous individuals from accessing illegal firearms. In this case, it was not a government program or policy that intervened—but an alert citizen and a vigilant dog—that may have prevented a tragedy.
