Man Faces Multiple Charges After Threatening to Shoot Up Las Vegas School
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A former student of Cowan Academic Center in Las Vegas is facing more than a dozen charges after allegedly threatening to shoot up the school. Jonathan Lee Sandoval, 25, has been accused of making multiple threatening phone calls to school staff, prompting a swift response from Clark County School District police.
According to court documents, Sandoval called the school 75 times over four months, leaving voicemails in which he threatened to kill staff members. On May 14, he allegedly called the school and told staff he was going to kill them all. However, thanks to the quick action of CCSDPD, Sandoval was arrested the next day and now faces 18 charges, including making threats of terrorism and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
During his court appearance, a judge read out the charges against Sandoval, which include multiple counts of owning or possessing firearms illegally. The public defender representing him mentioned receiving a disc full of calls that the state wants to introduce as evidence.
The arrest report details some of the threatening voicemails Sandoval left, including statements about shooting up the school and raping staff members. Police found multiple guns, including privately manufactured ones, during a search of Sandoval’s home. He has a criminal history involving firearms, including a prior arrest for assault with a deadly weapon.
Sandoval entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill in a previous case and was sentenced to probation. He is scheduled for a court hearing to determine his bond. The charges he faces include making threats of terrorism, possession of firearms with altered serial numbers, and obscene/threatening phone calls.
The nature of the calls to Cowan Academic Center raised alarm among school staff, leading to Sandoval’s arrest. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of taking threats seriously and the swift action of law enforcement in ensuring the safety of students and staff.