Hollister
– In spite of recent threats of large-scale violence targeting
San Benito County schools, law enforcement and education officials
say schools are safe.
Hollister – In spite of recent threats of large-scale violence targeting San Benito County schools, law enforcement and education officials say schools are safe.
The arrest of a 15-year-old student at Anzar High School who reportedly told another student he was planning a school shooting marked the third such case in two weeks.
The threats have heightened awareness among school staff and law enforcement. But while all say the arrests are important reminders to students and the community to keep their ears open, they think schools are still safe.
“We’re still on high alert, but we did all we could aggressively and immediately. Our staff and students are safe,” said Jackie Muñoz, superintendent of the Aromas-San Juan Unified School district.
The Anzar freshman, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, was arrested at the San Juan Bautista substation. School officials received a tip Friday that the student had told classmates of a plan to “shoot somebody” and “make it a big deal,” according to the sheriff’s report.
The student is being held at juvenile hall and has been charged by the district attorney with making terrorist threats, a felony, said San Benito County’s Interim Chief Probation Officer Mary Covell.
Lt. Roy Iler said that typically the sheriff’s department does not receive many threats of school violence.
“These ones close together are probably the first time I’ve seen it that back-to-back,” Iler said.
The three threats all referenced large-scale school shootings, and one specifically threatened a Columbine-scale incident.
Iler said he thought the threats were a result of the public attention received by the Virginia Tech massacre.
“I think it’s the copycat effect for publicity or attention,” he said.
The quick arrests of the three individuals is a good reminder of how seriously law enforcement and the schools take any kind of threatening statement, Iler said.
“Threats of school shooting violence we don’t take lightly. Our policy is zero tolerance,” he said.
After the Anzar student was arrested, another student came forward with information that the student had inquired about finding a firearm, reaffirming the sheriff’s belief that officials had made the right decision in acting quickly, Iler said.
Iler said this incident is a good reminder to students that they should not be afraid to come forward if they hear anything suspicious.
“They have to take responsibility for their own safety and make sure we know about it,” Iler said.
According to a letter sent home to Anzar families, the student’s threat was only reported after it passed through four other students.
Muñoz said the staff members at Anzar led the students in a discussion of school safety. During their advisory period on Monday, the students spoke about their responsibilities when it came to hearing about threats.
The most recent arrest marks the only incident reported by students. The other two were reported by staff members at the schools.
The first incident occurred on May 2 when Keith Borchers, 37, was overheard making threats about a Columbine-like incident at Spring Grove School. Borchers pleaded no contest to misdemeanor threats Tuesday afternoon. He was sentenced to three years probation.
The second incident occurred on May 7 when 18-year-old Jesse Gutierrez, a student at San Andreas High School, was overheard by a teacher making threats of a school shooting. Gutierrez is still in San Benito County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned on May 22.
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. She can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 336 or at aj**@fr***********.com.
