School threat keeps students home

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) - Two more teens have been arrested for alleged threats to shoot up their middle school Friday, bringing the total to four boys in custody.

Patrol cars circled Belen Middle School, and security was amped up Friday.

There was a high police presence, but even so, several parents kept more than half of students home from school.

School officials encouraged parents to stay with their students in classes after at least four young boys threatened a school shooting would happen at Belen Middle School on Friday.

"We do have quite a few parents here today, and we understand those parents who decided 'I want to play it safe; I want to keep my child at home,'" Superintendent Ron Marquez said. "We'll continue to work with those parents also."

Two 13-year-olds, Kahleb Lucero and Mateo Jaquez were arrested Thurday, and Lawrence Chavez, 13, and Alejandro Ortega, 14, were arrested Wednesday. All four students who claim to be 18th Street gang members.

Seventh-grader Danielle Armijo first heard of the threats on Twitter.

"It said 'school officials foil student plan to massacre' or something like that, and then I just clicked on it and then I called my mom all scared," she said. "And then we watched the news and stuff."

Armijo's mom chose to stay with her on campus.

"Today I felt it was important and, not only to accompany her so she can see how safe the school is, but to also show the support for the staff and the administration," said Toni Armijo. Students were aware of the threats.

The comfort of having their mom at school, kept 12-year-old twins Jonua and Aubrey Gallegos feeling confident they're in good hands.

"She said, 'It's not going to happen,' just trying to encourage us that its not going to happen, and if it does just be as safe as possible," said Jonua. School officials are trying to keep a sense of normalcy and safety.

"We're going to take this stuff very seriously," said Marquez. "More importantly, we're also going to show those people that threaten the schools, we're not going to put up with it and we are going to get the police involved."

Marquez said there were no problems at any of the schools today. He also promised an increased presence of authority, whether it be administrators or police, through the end of the school year.

Police said they believe they have the key students behind the threat in custody, but are not ruling out more arrests.