NMSP News:
SANTA FE — A New Mexico State Police (NMSP) investigation leads to the arrest of an Edgewood teenager accused of issuing a shooting threat aimed at a local school.
NMSP began an investigation June 9 into allegations that an Edgewood teenager had issued a shooting threat for an Edgewood school on social media.
The threat, issued on the social media application Yik Yak, reads as follows, “Hello Edgewood anyone want to shoot up the school? I need a partner”.
Yik Yak is a platform that allows users to post anonymously, therefore no name or profile information was attached to the public post. Agents from the NMSP Investigations Bureau tracked the threat to an Edgewood home, where 17-year-old Emma Haviland resides.
During an interview with NMSP agents, Haviland stated that the whole threat was a joke. Haviland was transported to a local hospital. Haviland was released from the hospital June 16 and booked.
At last check Haviland was being held at the San Juan County Juvenile Services Center on the following charges:
- Attempt to commit a felony (3rd Degree Felony);
- Bomb scares and shooting threats unlawful (Misdemeanor);
- Interference with members of staff or the general public (interfering with educational process) (Petty Misdemeanor); and
- Disorderly conduct (engaging in violent, abusive, indecent conduct, etc.) (Petty Misdemeanor).
“Investigating violent threats like the one involved in this incident is of the utmost importance to the New Mexico State Police,” NMSP Chief Tim Johnson said. “Our officers take threats like this seriously and work diligently to hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of our school children and the general public. I applaud our agents for their dedication to keeping our communities safe and for their quick and thorough actions, which led to the charges in this case.”
FBI Division Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda said, “The FBI takes all threats against schools and other public places seriously. Even hoax threats disrupt school and waste law enforcement resources. The FBI, working with our law enforcement partners, brings a lot of resources to these investigations and we will hold the person who makes a threat accountable.”
The New Mexico State Police investigated this case with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is now being prosecuted by the First Judicial District Attorney’s office in Santa Fe.
