THATCHER, Ariz. — A dance taking place in the Thatcher High School parking lot Friday night came to an abrupt end when a man drove to the parking lot to complain about the music and then pulled out a gun.
Thatcher police say Robert Layton pulled up to the dance shortly before 11:45 p.m., got out of his car and approached the DJ, who directed him to the principal, Jeffrey Lords. Lords said Layton was angry, threatened to shut the music down and then grabbed Lords by the shirt.
Layton then pulled out a gun and began waving it around. The gun was in a nylon holster and never came out of the holster, police said.
Layton then went over to the music equipment and began pulling out wires. That's when the DJ, Bryson Wren tackled Layton to the ground trying to disarm him. Layton still had control of the gun, but Wren pinned his arm so Layton couldn't use the weapon.
An officer arrived on scene shortly after, disarmed Layton and took him into custody at 11:48 p.m. Layton complained he was injured in the altercation and was transported to a local hospital before being booked into Graham County Jail.
Police later discovered Layton's 9mm gun had a loaded magazine but did not have a round in the chamber.
"At this time we do not have any information that would lead us to believe Layton went to the school with the intention of harming any students," Thatcher Police Chief Shaffen Woods said in a statement. "Bryson Wren did an outstanding job of containing this subject and deprived Layton of any opportunities to use the weapon, if he had decided to do so."