Lolita Harper
FULLERTON -- A 17-year-old John Burroughs High School student was
arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a fellow choir member on an
America Online message board, police said.
The boy, whose name was not released because he is a minor, was
arrested at an April 6 regional choir event at Fullerton Junior College,
despite earlier confessions that it was just a joke, Burbank Police Det.
Brian Llewellyn said.
The night before the event, the boy told both the victim's mother and
his choir director, Mary Rago, about the threat and said it was a prank,
Llewellyn said.
Although the victim's mother initially called the police, both she and
Rago failed to inform the authorities -- who had been investigating the
threat for days -- that the student confessed.
"They appeared to be protecting the individual," Llewellyn said. "But
it ended up creating a tactical nightmare for the people in Fullerton and
required a whole bunch of man hours that wound up being wasted."
Rago did not return numerous calls from the Leader.
At the time of the arrest, Llewellyn, the investigating officer,
thought he was dealing with an armed suspect who intended to kill a
classmate.
"You won't have your [expletive] friends [expletive] when I pull out
my .22. You're [expletive] dead [expletive]," was the message that was
posted, Llewellyn said, adding that police cannot afford to take a threat
like that lightly.
Llewellyn collaborated with security officials at Fullerton Junior
College and officers from the Fullerton Police Department, who ultimately
made the arrest.
Police intend to pursue the criminal case and will file a petition to
the district attorney, Llewellyn said.
"With all the hysteria about Columbine and Santee, this is not the
time to make jokes," Burbank Police Sgt. Bill Taylor said.
If the choir event falls within the Burbank School District's
jurisdiction, the boy will also face disciplinary action that could
include suspension or expulsion, said Hank Jannace, district director of
pupil services.
