A 16-year-old high school student has been arrested after he allegedly threatened to shoot students at the school, Santa Ana Police said.
The principal at NOVA Academy Charter School called police Monday after the suspect’s ex-girlfriend reported that she had received threatening emails from the suspect.
"The suspect had informed her that he had a hit list, he was tired of being bullied, he’d been bullied since middle school, and that was going to take action and shoot students at the school," Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
According to police, the suspect said he was going to recruit other students to carry out the shooting. Police reached out to the suspect, and the suspect provided them with the names of the students he planned to kill.
The suspect, who was a sophomore at the school, is currently being held at juvenile hall. He faces a charge of making a terrorist threat. Restraining orders have been issued to keep the suspect away from his ex-girlfriend Parents of students on the suspect’s hit list have been contacted.
"NOVA has taken proactive steps to secure our school," the school’s Executive Director Renee Lancaster said in a statement. "NOVA will have an armed guard onsite from 5:00 am until 10:00 pm Monday through Friday through at least April 11th, the beginning of our Spring break. We have also secured the assistance of the Santa Ana Police Department. NOVA and the Santa Ana Police Department will continue to work cooperatively to protect and update our students, parents and staff."
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The investigation is ongoing.
