Editor’s Word: (6/27/24) Since this story was printed in August 2023, the case towards Nathan James Cruz was dismissed because of a lacking witness, based on court docket information in Bexar County, Texas.
CNN
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The teenage cousin of the gunman answerable for the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, faculty taking pictures was arrested Monday on suspicion of threatening to “do the identical factor” to a college, based on court docket paperwork obtained by CNN.
Nathan James Cruz, 17, was arrested on a felony cost of constructing a terroristic menace to a public place and a misdemeanor cost of constructing a terroristic menace towards a member of the family, based on Bexar County Central Justice of the Peace information.
Cruz is the cousin of Salvador Ramos, the 18-year-old who fatally shot 19 kids and two academics at Robb Elementary College in Might 2022, San Antonio police Sgt. Washington Moscoso instructed the New York Instances on Monday.
CNN has sought remark from San Antonio police.
Ramos stormed into Robb Elementary final yr armed with an assault rifle and tactical vest and opened hearth on two adjoining school rooms – perpetrating one of many deadliest faculty shootings in trendy US historical past. Legislation enforcement’s response has been closely scrutinized, as officers waited exterior the lecture rooms for greater than an hour earlier than getting into and fatally taking pictures Ramos.
Cruz’s mom contacted police on Monday after her daughter reported that Cruz stated he deliberate to “do the identical factor” as his cousin, based on an affidavit obtained by CNN.
His mom instructed investigators she was “particularly involved as a result of the suspect is at present on probation, was intoxicated on the time” and since the household lives throughout the road from an elementary faculty, the affidavit states.
Cruz’s sister instructed investigators that whereas she was giving her brother a journey, he “threatened to shoot her within the head and acknowledged he would ‘shoot the college,’” based on the affidavit.
The mom allegedly overheard a telephone dialog by which Cruz was making an attempt to illegally purchase an AR-15-style assault rifle – the identical type utilized by Ramos to hold out the Uvalde taking pictures, based on the affidavit.
Following his arrest, Cruz “denied making any threats” when interviewed by a detective, the doc states.
CNN has been unable to substantiate whether or not Cruz has an lawyer. His prices carry a mixed $160,000 bond, based on the Justice of the Peace information.