East Syracuse, N.Y. — An 18-year-old East Syracuse Minoa high school student told others he had a handgun all day at school and made threats to shoot up the school, according to court papers.
School officials were alerted that the student had a gun when others reported seeing it on a school bus going home Monday, according to Manlius police and court papers.
Witnesses told police that the student on the bus ride said he wanted to shoot up the school during the state Regents exam and shoot the bus driver if she didn’t “shut the f--k up,” according to the documents.
Elijah Cruz Ogando, a summer school student, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon on school grounds and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.
When police searched his family’s home in East Syracuse on Monday, they found a .22 caliber pistol and .22 caliber bullets in his pockets, police said in court documents.
On the bus ride home, witnesses told police they saw Ogando sifting through his backpack and reported seeing the handle of a gun. He at one point displayed three bullets and the gun, according to the court papers.
Ogando was arrested Monday night and arraigned at the Onondaga County CAP Court.
Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at 315-690-6950, at falba@syracuse.com, or on Twitter at @byfernandoalba.
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