In a shocking incident caught on camera, two seven- and nine-year-old boys were seen in an intense armed standoff with police officers in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The video, which went viral on social media, shows deputies using non-lethal rounds and a drone to safely disarm the children, who were seen passing a loaded handgun between themselves. The incident occurred in February but became public only recently when the bodycam footage was released by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. Authorities claim the situation would have ended in fatalities if it were not for swift action and high-tech devices, including a department drone that provided real-time intelligence on the scene.

The dramatic video footage captures the officers asking the children to surrender the weapon. Deputies used non-lethal weapons to divert the children before advancing safely and taking possession of the gun. Sheriff John Allen said one of the boys did pull the trigger during the standoff, but the gun jammed, averting what could have been a fatal tragedy. He attributed the use of drones to enabling officers to "safely and swiftly" evaluate and contain the situation. Prosecutors have declined to charge the children, citing their age. Instead, the sheriff's department has endeavored to get the family trauma counseling, medical treatment, behavioral health services, and even prepaid food cards, through partnerships with local agencies. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office reports that police had responded to the home of the children almost 50 times in the past for numerous disturbances, highlighting the family’s ongoing struggles and the broader issue of youth vulnerability in the region.

Also read: Tory Lanez: Stabbed 14 Times Inside California Jail, Who is He? Why Is The Rapper Behind Bars

The event has reignited worries of juvenile crime and access to firearms by children in New Mexico. New Mexico has recently seen a spate of youth-related violence, such as a fatal hit-and-run collision in Albuquerque and a mass shooting in Las Cruces in March that killed three people and wounded 15.

Also read: Two Indian Students Killed, One Injured After Speeding Car Crashes Into Tree In US' Pennsylvania Turnpike