The student found with a fake gun at an Evesham elementary school on Monday wanted police to take his life, according to police.

Evesham Police said the 14-year-old Marlton boy told the officers who arrested him as he crouched on the basketball court of the Van Zant Elementary School that he wanted to be shot dead by an Evesham police officer..

The boy was taken to a mental health facility, and was later charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, terroristic threats, and criminal trespass. He was found to have a steel replica handgun that could only be determined to a replica firearm during a physical examination after the incident, according to police.

The incident began when several parents, one of whom is married to a New Jersey State Police officer, spotted the boy on the perimeter of the school just before 4 p.m. The school was put into lockdown and police began to check the school for other possible weapons, police said.

Officers spotted the boy on the school's basketball court, where they determined he was alone, police said.

Evesham Police commended school staff for reacting quickly to the lockdown as police worked to make sure the school was safe.

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