Boys, ages 7 and 9, seen in armed standoff receiving assistance from deputies

A New Mexico sheriff's office is defending its decision not to arrest two young boys ages and seen in drone footage in an armed standoff with deputies Video disclosed Thursday by the Bernalillo County Sheriff s Office BCSO shows the two boys dressed in Minecraft and Star Wars-themed pajamas standing behind a covered air-conditioning unit and carrying a loaded handgun In the nearly six minutes of footage shared the children are seen looking around as if they are trying to avoid detection and capture Eventually the boys are surrounded and detained by deputies This circumstance illustrates the complex intersection of juvenile crime mental wellbeing and population safety Sheriff John Allen stated in a comment We are taking pivotal policies to close utility gaps and expand our ability to work with juveniles involved in firearms or violent crimes NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT BANS JUDGE AFTER ALLEGED TDA MEMBER ARRESTED AT HOMEThe episode took place on Feb but was highlighted on Thursday while BCSO showcased the work of its behavioral physical condition unit and a new initiative designed to address critical provision gaps in the group according to a press release Allen stated his department had been called to the home of the episode dozens of times prior to the standoff due to problems with the boys and their families the Albuquerque Journal informed adding that it is not known how the boys got the gun NEW MEXICO JUDGE RESIGNS AFTER ALLEGED TDA MEMBER ARRESTED AT HIS HOMEThe newspaper noted no charges have been filed against the boys and that they have not been removed from their home although the gun seen in the video was seized Children are our future and we know one side is going to say 'Lock them in jail ' They're and years old I advised you before numerous times in numerous interviews that I understand the frontal lobe Allen stated according to the Albuquerque Journal Members of the department's behavioral medical unit are in contact with the boys' families providing every recourse accomplishable to assist the children involved a BCSO sergeant notified Fox News Digital BCSO announced its drone allowed deputies to secure the area swiftly and safely ultimately preventing a possible deadly force encounter with the juveniles