A 16-year-old Oklahoma City student claims he was only jokingabout robbing the $2.9 billion Tinker Federal Credit Union branch in John Marshall HighSchool.

But the Oklahoma City Police Department said the attemptedrobbery of the in-school branch by Rayqwonn Deion Chatman ofOklahoma City was not a joke, and he is being charged as an adultwith attempted robbery by force or fear, Capt. Dexter Nelson, chiefspokesperson for the Oklahoma City Police Department, saidWednesday.

The incident occurred Jan. 18 when Chatman walked up to thecounter in the Tinker FCU branch with his hands inside the pocketsof his hoodie. He raised his right hand up that gave the appearanceof a gun in his right pocket and said: “Give me some money,” to aTinker FCU teller, according to the police report.

The teller, who was assisting two other student tellers, toldChatman he could be in a lot of trouble for this action, and one ofthe students attempted to get Chatman to leave the branch, thepolice report said.

But the 6-foot, 170-pound Chatman refused and stood in front ofthe teller for about 30 seconds before he finally left the branchwithout any money, police said after reviewing the security camerafootage.

The teller told police she did not think Chatman had a gun butthat she wasn't sure. It turned out he did not have a gun and,without incident, police took Chatman into custody in the school'sgymnasium. He was being held in the Oklahoma County Jail.

In Oklahoma, juveniles are identified when they are charged witha felony.

“He's claiming that this was a practical joke,” said Nelson, thepolice captain. “But at no time did he ever pull out his hand toshow that he didn't have a gun. In the follow-up reports, thewitnesses said they thought it was a joke at first, too, but thenthey state they didn't know because he became very aggressive andvery forceful in demanding money and pointing his so-called gun. Heleft the bank with them (witnesses) believing he possibly hadsomething in his pocket.”

Last year, a seventh-grade student walked into the school'sTinker FCU branch and joked about robbing it. But a policeinvestigation determined the student was joking and no charges werefiled, according to Oklahoma City Police and an official atOklahoma City Public Schools.

“He was laughing the whole time and did not allude to the factthat he had a gun,” Nelson said.

Tierney Tinnin, media services director for the Oklahoma CityPublic Schools, said there is a sign at the school branch thatreads: “Any student who insinuates or pretends to hold up the TFCUbranch will be arrested and prosecuted.”

“The school held meetings with students shortly after theincident … and we will continue to work with students and TFCUofficials on educating students of the consequences of suchactions,” Tinnin said of Chatman's arrest.

Oklahoma City Public Schools said in a statement that it has asuccessful and effective partnership with Tinker FCU in thedevelopment and operation of the John Marshall High Schoolin-school branch.

“It is our hope that this incident will not overshadow theimportant and relevant education lessons the students are learningthanks to the in-school branch,” the statement said.