Three Socorro High School students have been suspended for allegedly painting graffiti on the high school premises.
The three male students were discovered on Tuesday when Socorro High School Resource Officer Greg Valentino was doing his routine morning security check of the area around the auxiliary gym at the back entrance of the building.
The area is one place at the school that is not covered by security cameras.
Valentino saw white, freshly painted gang-related graffiti on the blue doors at the back of the school and noticed the three students nearby. Similar graffiti was later found on athletic equipment.
Principal Dan Padilla said this is the first instance of serious graffiti at the school in years.
"We've had some minor instances, but nothing like this," he said. "Sometimes we find something on doors or a wall. The custodians find it and repaint it right away."
The graffiti was removed and the doors were repainted on the day of the incident.
The three students were given a Level Four suspension Tuesday and are now awaiting a hearing.
A committee will be formed which will consider further disciplinary action.
Padilla said the committee would consider the students' grades, attendance and involvement in any other incidents before making a decision.