A recent wave of concern swept through the Austin community as a 17-year-old was taken into custody for making threats against Graham Elementary School. The Austin Police Department, in collaboration with the FBI and other local law enforcement agencies, identified and arrested Giana Castillo on Tuesday this week. The Austin Police Department was made aware of a "credible threat" on August 20, as reported by KVUE.
The arrest was swiftly carried out after the FBI received a tip concerning statements made on an Instagram account tied to Castillo. Although officials do currently not suspect a continued threat against the school, subsequent measures, including increased police presence, have been enacted throughout the week to ensure student safety. As a precautionary step, Austin Independent School District Police have also been dispatched to monitor the campus, according to a letter from the district cited by The Austin American Statesman.
Castillo faces charges of making a terroristic threat, which is classified as a third-degree felony. Despite her arrest, Travis County Jail records indicated that she was not held in jail as of Friday evening, although her bail was set at $100,000.
According to Graham Elementary School Principal Bardo Montelongo, the campus conducts weekly safety audits and has communicated the gravity of the situation to families. "I understand how difficult this information feels to receive and I am deeply saddened to be sharing it," Montelongo stated in an obtained letter to parents. "As your campus leader, I am incredibly grateful that through the collaboration of our local law enforcement agencies, our campus remains safe." Furthermore, Austin district Police Chief Wayne Sneed affirmed their commitment by stating in a release obtained by The Austin American Statesman, "We’re committed to keeping our community safe and have taken measures to prevent any threats."
In response to the incident and the larger issue of campus security, district officials are scheduled to convene a meeting with parents of Graham Elementary on Monday to discuss the matter further. The ongoing nature of the investigation suggests that authorities are maintaining a vigilant stance even after the immediate threat has been addressed.
