BOERNE, Texas — A 16-year-old boy is in custody and facing felony charges after authorities say he reported bombs and threatened to open fire at both Boerne high schools Wednesday.
Those threats were later found to be false, Boerne Police Chief Steve Perez said, with no guns or explosives found at either campus. The unidentified teen's home was searched Thursday, at which point police say he confessed to making the false threats.
"The person responsible for this frightful day has been apprehended," Perez said.
The first call came in around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, initiating lockdown procedures at Champion High School campus as law enforcement conducted a search. According to Perez, police received word that the initial threat may have been "a possible distraction" from a potential attack at Boerne High School less than two miles away.
Law enforcement was divided up as another lockdown and search began at Boerne High.
"Due to the threats received, we had multiple agencies respond," Perez said, listing off various local, state and federal authorities who helped at both scenes.
Among those agencies were the FBI, ATF and Homeland Security.
The lockdowns were lifted early Wednesday afternoon, at which point an investigation began.
“Our detectives started looking into how the call was received, and later received information about a possible suspect," Peerz said. "Due to the information we had, I elected to minimize communication to ensure our suspect would not be alerted in any way.”
The 16-year-old suspect was eventually taken into custody Friday afternoon; Perez said he is a former student who has been out of the district system for about a year.
He faces felony charges of terrorism, terroristic threat, and false alarm or report. Perez said no weapons or explosives were found when authorities executed their search warrant.
“Our highest priority is the safety, security and wellbeing of our students and staff," said Boerne ISD Superintendent Kristin Craft, who thanked first responders for their actions.
'Just jump out the window'
Mario Davila is among the dozens of parents who picked up their children after the all clear was given by police and the school district. Davila drove all the way from the border after hearing what was going on. He finally reunited with his daughter who attends Champion High School.
“That’s what I told my daughter when she was in the classroom," she said. "'If you see an opportunity or an actual threat, just jump out the window.' They had them with the lights off and just laying down on the ground, the routine they have for their safety. But everything’s good now."
The district updated families on the specifics of the lockdown and lockouts, saying in an email, "While in lockout mode no staff or students are allowed outside of the school until the situation is resolved, i.e., no outside recess, classes, physical education, etc., while lockdown mode is students and staff secure interior doors and stay secure inside classrooms."
The district also asked parents not to come to any campuses.
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