Teen who threatened to kill classmates facing felonies
EL CENTRO — The 18-yearold Imperial High School senior arrested a week ago for threatening to kill classmates was charged Thursday with three felony counts of making criminal threats.
Karl P. Manaig, who remains out on bail, is scheduled to be in court Monday in Brawley for his arraignment, the county District Attorney’s Office announced.
Manaig was arrested Feb. 16 by Imperial police following an investigation that determined Manaig, on or about Feb. 15, had threatened to kill or cause bodily injury to students in two different classrooms at Imperial High School, the DA’s Office reported.
Imperial police had been notified of Manaig’s alleged threats by campus officials and were assisted in their investigation by Homeland Security Investigations’ Imperial Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Manaig is not suspected of having had any actual list of potential targets or any accomplices in connection to the incident, authorities previously stated.
The criminal case against Manaig was submitted to the DA’s Office on Wednesday.
“Our history of collaborating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies allows us to promptly assess threats such as this so that offenders are held accountable and teachers and students are protected” said DA Gilbert Otero in a written statement.
Students have also been credited with alerting authorities of Manaig’s alleged threats.
“The fact that students were willing to report the incident demonstrates a level of maturity that should be commended” Otero stated.
The case also reflects how collaboration among local and federal law enforcement, school officials and students can help save lives and prevent a potentially violent and tragic situation from taking place, stated David Shaw, special agent in charge for HSI in Calexico.
“It is critical that community members remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviors to authorities – ‘if you see something, say something,’” Shaw said in a written statement.
Shaw also offered assurances that authorities are committed to exhausting all resources whenever possible in order to prevent an attack before it happens.
The initial investigation had prompted school officials to request additional police presence on campus on Feb. 16 as well as the cancellation Tuesday of the campus’ active shooter drill.
The fact that students were willing to report the incident demonstrates a level of maturity that should be commended. District Attorney Gilbert Otero