AndrewBlakeFort Wayne, IN – An army veteran found a spot just off of school property and is standing guard over a high school with an AR-15 and pistol.
Mark Cowan said he was moved to do something in the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting, according to WANE-TV.
Cowan told the TV station he is there to protect the students and staff.
WANE reported that Cowan has been in contact with the neighborhood police and the school’s security officer. Cowan said he’d stay until the school district puts in place additional security measures.
Fort Wayne Community Schools Spokeswoman Krista Stockman released a statement.
“We take the security of our schools very seriously,” the statement said. “We understand he has a right to be out there, but we do not believe it adds to the safety of our students. At North Side, as at all of our schools, we have security procedures in place. In addition, at North Side, we have armed police officers in the building every day.”
WANE identified Cowan as a member of Oath Keepers. In the video, he wore an Oath Keepers jacket.
The organization is a fringe-right group that actively works to recruit current and former military and first responders to prepare for the hostile takeover of local governments by the federal government or a foreign government.
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