ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Police Department announced an arrest of a student following a credible threat on social media to commit a shooting at East High School.
The suspect has been identified as Abigail Hernandez, 21. Police found a shotgun in her home.
According to officials, Hernandez is an undocumented immigrant who had status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
On February 15, RPD was notified by RCSD staff about a terroristic threat that was posted on the East High School Facebook page. Police say the threat came from a fictitious account reading, “I’m coming tomorrow and I’m going to shoot all ya...”
Hernandez, a City of Rochester resident, was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, which is a Class D felony. According to police, she does not have any prior arrests.
She is currently in the custody of ICE (Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement).
East High School Superintendent Shaun Nelms released the following statement:
"Sadly, in wake of the recent Parkland, Florida tragedy, schools across the country have been grappling with social media threats intended to instill fear and anxiety. While we cannot comment on this particular police investigation around a threat made to East, I want to stress how fortunate we are to be part of a community in which the police department works closely with schools to ensure the safety of the entire school community.
We remain very grateful to the Rochester Police Department for their partnership and for keeping us well informed throughout the entire process. Their presence on campus last week and their guidance on how to best keep staff and students safe during this efficient, successful police investigation reiterates their ongoing support."