A Rochester teenager accused of bringing a large handgun to the Mayo High School property on Aug. 16, then fleeing police entered not guilty pleas Wednesday in Olmsted County Juvenile Court.
Judge Kevin Lund ordered that Devante Atkins, 17, continue to be held at the county's juvenile detention center pending the results of a psychological evaluation. Atkins pleaded not guilty to three felonies, a gross misdemeanor, and a petty misdemeanor on Wednesday.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 21.
Atkins is accused of bringing a .44-magnum handgun to Mayo High during a schedule pick-up day. He was on school property for an hour and a half, according to police, but no one saw him with the gun inside the school building or reported Atkins threatening them with the gun.
The teen dropped the gun outside the school and a parent who saw it reported it to a school liaison officer. The officer confronted Atkins about the weapon, and Atkins reportedly reached for the gun while he was sitting in a car, leading to a scuffle.
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Atkins was arrested after a foot chase through a neighborhood west of the southeast Rochester high school. Police found a fully loaded magazine for a .44 magnum in his backpack, according to the court petition.
Police later found a .44 magnum handgun stashed in a child's playhouse at a residence in the same neighborhood where Atkins was arrested. The gun was not loaded, according to police Lt. Casey Moilanen.
Atkins is charged with possession of a dangerous weapon on school grounds, possession of a pistol/assault weapon by someone under age 18, and obstruction of the legal process, all three felonies. Fourth degree assault, a gross misdemeanor, and fleeing a peace officer, a petty misdemeanor.
