A teenager was arrested this week in Floydada after making a threat against his former high school. There have been several threats like this made at area schools, but this was the first arrest made.
According to the Floydada ISD superintendent, when it comes to threats toward the school, following protocol is key. That is exactly what students, staff and law enforcement did when they found out about a Snapchat that had the caption “school shooter.”
“You can’t think it’s never going to happen in Floydada. We treat every threat seriously,” said Floydada ISD Superintendent Gilbert Trevino.
The Snapchat photo that started it all was a picture of the school’s floor that said “school shooter.” The former student took the photo while he was in the school returning property. It was possibly a joke in poor taste or maybe a real threat, but either way, Floydada ISD took action.
“In today’s time, you have to take any report seriously. We’re in a heightened sense of alarm, and we have to take certain precautions in order to protect our students,” said Trevino. “We have to treat everything serious, you can’t just think it’s a prank.”
Floydada High School is the fifth school on the South Plains to receive some kind of threat of a shooting since last week. Levelland Intermediate School had a bomb threat on Wednesday.
“Police took quick action,” said Trevino. “They were able to locate the student whereabouts and later on in the day they were able to obtain an arrest warrant.”
In a matter of hours, Floydada Police arrested a former student. Noah Sarabia, 18, was arrested and charged for a terroristic threat.
They credit the quick arrest to everyone following FISD protocol.
“I was very proud of the students who came forward and made our administration aware of the Snapchat post. Everything went the way we need it to when something like that this happens,” said Trevino.
He said he is most of all proud of the several students who went to adults before pressing the share button.
“It’s real easy for student being teenagers to share out the Snapchat and all the while keeping the staff members in the dark about it,” said Trevino. “You never know when something is a hoax or if they truly intend to come to the school and shoot students and staff.”
Sarabia remains in the Lubbock County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
