Reports of man with gun near school prompts calls to police

Front Royal police were dispatched to West 1st Street near the Randolph Macon Academy gate at around 6:10 p.m. Thursday after police and Virginia State Police dispatchers received calls about a man with a rifle at that location.

According to a press release issued today by the police:

"A call of this type becomes top priority to law enforcement," states Richard H. Furr, Front Royal Police Chief. "All of our available units, in addition to support from the Virginia State Police and the Warren County Sheriff's Office, responded to seal off the area until the subject was located or the area deemed to be safe.

"Officer J. Winner located and identified a 19 year old male in the area with what was determined to be a plastic air-soft rifle. The subject admitted to Officer Winner that he had been discharging the rifle in his yard. Officer Winner will consult with the Front Royal Town Attorney about any possible charges against the subject.

"With the number of incidents that have occurred around the country and Virginia in particular, we cannot take incidents like this lightly. It becomes a high priority call in which law enforcement officers have received special training in order to save lives," according to Chief Furr. "