A standoff involving two young boys armed with a loaded handgun was safely resolved thanks to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office’s drone programme, authorities in New Mexico revealed last week. The incident, which occurred in February, was captured on drone and body camera footage released publicly by the sheriff’s office.The dramatic footage shows deputies negotiating with the boys, aged 7 and 9, as they passed a firearm back and forth during a tense exchange. “Put it down, baby,” one deputy is heard saying, urging the children to disarm.

According to the news agency AP, the situation escalated when one of the boys pulled the trigger, but the weapon malfunctioned.Sheriff John Allen praised the drone for giving deputies a critical aerial view of the unfolding scene, helping them assess the boys’ positions and the firearm in real time. Deputies eventually used non-lethal rounds to distract the children before moving in to disarm and detain them. “Our deputies could have taken deadly force. That would not have gone well with anybody in the nation,” Allen said during a press conference.Authorities say no charges have been filed against the boys, as state law prohibits prosecuting children that young. According to news outlet HuffPost, the children remain in the custody of their guardians and that the firearm had been retrieved from inside their home. Allen said officials are now considering charges against the parents under a New Mexico law that makes it illegal to store firearms within children’s reach.“We know one side is going to say, ‘Lock them in jail.’ They’re 7 and 9 years old,” Allen told reporters, highlighting the importance of recognising the boys’ age and brain development. “I told you before, numerous times in numerous interviews, that I understand the frontal lobe.”The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office had reportedly been called to the boys’ home over 50 times prior to the incident for various issues, according to AP. Instead of pursuing criminal action, the department has worked to connect the family with trauma therapy, medical and behavioural services and even prepaid grocery cards.“This case illustrates the complex intersection of juvenile crime, mental health and public safety,” Allen said in a statement quoted by AP. “We are taking important steps to close service gaps and expand our ability to work with juveniles involved in firearms or violent crimes.”New Mexico has seen a surge in violent incidents involving young suspects in recent months, prompting calls from prosecutors, law enforcement, and Republican lawmakers for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to convene a special legislative session to address the state’s growing crime crisis.