Phoenix has been under the specter of potential tragedy following a series of threats that led to the arrest of a 24-year-old man. According to ABC15, Alex Neriz made threats of a "mass shooting" to both a local hotel and an elementary school.
On February 21, after employees received threatening emails hinting at a mass shooting, officers with the Phoenix Police Department launched an investigation upon searching the unnamed Valley hotel, ABC15 reports. Just three days later, yet another terror struck, having responded to an elementary school that was promptly placed on lockdown following threats made to a staff member about a similar violent act. No immediate threat was found at either location.
Fox10Phoenix's coverage details how the police, after systematic campus searches, were fortunate the children and staff were deemed safe.
Phoenix Police Department linked the threats to Neriz, already in custody in Tempe on separate, yet undisclosed threats. During an interview, he reportedly admitted to the threats related to the Phoenix investigations. He has been booked on multiple charges of making terrorist threats. The details of these separate charges, while still under investigation by the Tempe Police Department, remain to be seen.
