Gatita
05-15-2005, 01:47 AM
Police arrest 15-year-old girl for allegedly making hit list
Rio Hondo school official calls police after receiving tip from parent
By MATT LYNCH and DANIEL GARCÍA ORDAZ
Valley Morning Star
RIO HONDO — A 15-year-old female freshman attending Rio Hondo High School was arrested Friday afternoon for allegedly making a hit list containing the names of fellow students, police and school officials said.
Superintendent Anneliese McMinn said school officials became aware of the list after she received a phone call from a concerned parent Thursday night.
The tip spawned a flurry of activity by school and local law enforcement officials.
"It began last night shortly before six," she said. "The parent told me of a student who had a list with the names of other students on it. I contacted our chief of police and our high school principal."
McMinn said that following the alert, police searched the home of the student, and Rio Hondo school district Police Chief Rick Rodriguez made arrangements to meet the girl and her guardian at the high school at 9 a.m. Friday.
Rodriguez said he could not elaborate on the contents of the list.
"I informed the guardian that she lives with not to take her to school," Rodriguez said.
The student and her guardian were both very cooperative, Rodriguez said.
"He took them over to the constable’s office and they ended up charging her with a third-degree felony," McMinn said.
Rodriguez said that Cameron County Precinct 4 Constable Robert Lopez’s office was called at about 10 a.m. and that the officers were present prior and during the interview.
The girl was charged with making terroristic threats — a third degree felony — punishable by a minimum of 180 days to a maximum of two years confinement and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
McMinn said that after the girl was arrested, police and school officials continued to be on high alert.
"We searched the high school to make sure there were no weapons," she said.
McMinn said that although there was no official change in the daily schedule at the high school, some parents removed their children from classes as a precautionary measure.
"Word gets out quickly in a small community," she said. "I’m sure parents contacted each other, even though there was no imminent danger. If we thought there was danger in any way, we would have released school."
McMinn said the incident was a shocking reminder that even small school districts are not immune from possible school violence.
"It was very disturbing, and we don’t take these things lightly at all," she said. "We treat them as something that needs to be taken care of very aggressively and very quickly."
McMinn said the girl would not be returning to school in the near future, and would attend classes at the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program campus in San Benito upon her return.
Rio Hondo school official calls police after receiving tip from parent
By MATT LYNCH and DANIEL GARCÍA ORDAZ
Valley Morning Star
RIO HONDO — A 15-year-old female freshman attending Rio Hondo High School was arrested Friday afternoon for allegedly making a hit list containing the names of fellow students, police and school officials said.
Superintendent Anneliese McMinn said school officials became aware of the list after she received a phone call from a concerned parent Thursday night.
The tip spawned a flurry of activity by school and local law enforcement officials.
"It began last night shortly before six," she said. "The parent told me of a student who had a list with the names of other students on it. I contacted our chief of police and our high school principal."
McMinn said that following the alert, police searched the home of the student, and Rio Hondo school district Police Chief Rick Rodriguez made arrangements to meet the girl and her guardian at the high school at 9 a.m. Friday.
Rodriguez said he could not elaborate on the contents of the list.
"I informed the guardian that she lives with not to take her to school," Rodriguez said.
The student and her guardian were both very cooperative, Rodriguez said.
"He took them over to the constable’s office and they ended up charging her with a third-degree felony," McMinn said.
Rodriguez said that Cameron County Precinct 4 Constable Robert Lopez’s office was called at about 10 a.m. and that the officers were present prior and during the interview.
The girl was charged with making terroristic threats — a third degree felony — punishable by a minimum of 180 days to a maximum of two years confinement and a fine not to exceed $10,000.
McMinn said that after the girl was arrested, police and school officials continued to be on high alert.
"We searched the high school to make sure there were no weapons," she said.
McMinn said that although there was no official change in the daily schedule at the high school, some parents removed their children from classes as a precautionary measure.
"Word gets out quickly in a small community," she said. "I’m sure parents contacted each other, even though there was no imminent danger. If we thought there was danger in any way, we would have released school."
McMinn said the incident was a shocking reminder that even small school districts are not immune from possible school violence.
"It was very disturbing, and we don’t take these things lightly at all," she said. "We treat them as something that needs to be taken care of very aggressively and very quickly."
McMinn said the girl would not be returning to school in the near future, and would attend classes at the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program campus in San Benito upon her return.