Student at NOVA Academy Charter school arrested after making death threats

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory

Student makes death threats at School suspect arrested

On 3-17-2014, at approximately 7 PM, the principal at NOVA Academy Charter School (1010 West 17th Street) called the Santa Ana Police Department to report that one of the school’s students had sent threatening emails to his ex-girlfriend, who is also a student at the school.

The suspect, a 16 year old sophomore, mailed the ex-girlfriend stating that he had a “hit list” of people who he was going to shoot at the school and added that he was going to recruit other students to help him carry out the planned shooting. He made no threats to the ex-girlfriend but mentioned that he was tired of being bullied.

Police officers made contact with the suspect, who provided the names of the students he intended to kill. Officers obtained an emergency restraining order on behalf of the ex-girlfriend and the school. The suspect was detained and placed at juvenile hall.

The police department was notified immediately after the principal became aware of the threatened violence. We continue to work with the school to take proactive measures to strengthen the safety of the students and staff at the NOVA Academy. The suspect remains in custody and the investigation is ongoing.

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Editor’s Note: NOVA Academy is located on the campus of the 10Ten Church, formally known as First Baptist of Santa Ana, at 1010 West 17th St., near Flower.

NOVA Academy
MEDIA STATEMENT
March 18, 2014

NOVA Academy has been made aware of a serious threat to a select group of our students. School staff takes any threat seriously and are working with local law enforcement to ensure the upmost safety of our school community.

Currently, the student who made the alleged threats is incarcerated and does not have access to our students, staff, or our school site. The student is also lawfully restrained from coming within one-hundred yards of our school address. The families of any individual students, who may have been a subject of these alleged threats, have been contacted by NOVA and the Santa Ana Police Department this afternoon to inform them of the threat.
Statement from NOVA Academy:

NOVA has taken proactive steps to secure our school. 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. NOVA staff will be available on campus from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm daily this week.

Student and campus safety is NOVA’s number one priority.

Media Contact:
Renee Lancaster, Executive Director, NOVA Academy Early College High School at (714) 569-0948.

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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