Post by UnoBomber on Apr 26, 2007 7:29:00 GMT -5
Phone threat sparks action
Motive for Gannon 'massacre' message remains unclear
By Kara Rhodes
kara.rhodes@timesnews.com
It took investigators just nine hours to find out who threatened "another massacre" on Gannon University's campus in a call to a Gannon student.
But they still haven't answered why Valerie Cantu, 19, made a cell phone call apparently evoking the April 16 Virginia Tech shootings that left 32 victims and the gunman dead.
Erie police charged Cantu, a former Gannon student, with making terroristic threats and harassment. Erie 2nd Ward District Judge Paul Urbaniak set her bond at $25,000. Police said she admitted making the call.
"No one is going to take these types of threats in this climate lightly," Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk said Wednesday.
Foulk said he took the words "another massacre" in the call as a reference to the mass murder at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He would not talk about what Cantu's motive was in making the call.
Erie police Capt. Frank Kwitowski said Cantu, who is pregnant, turned herself in about 10 a.m. Wednesday, about nine hours after an 18-year-old Gannon student received an anonymous phone call advising her "don't go to school, there is going to be another massacre."
Cantu's preliminary hearing is May 4 in front of Erie 4th Ward District Judge Tom Robie.
The student immediately notified campus security of the phone call.
Gannon security, in turn, notified police and Foulk. The FBI's help was summoned, and by 9:30 a.m. the call had been traced to Cantu's cell phone, Kwitowski said. Cantu lives in the 700 block of West 16th Street.
Gannon responded to the threat by setting in motion its crisis plan, which included sending e-mails about the threat to all students, faculty and staff.
The first e-mail was sent at 5:19 a.m. Follow-up e-mails were sent at 11:01 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
"I am happy to report that the person responsible for making the threat of violence against a Gannon student has been identified and is currently in custody at the Erie Police Department," wrote Don Gunter, Gannon's head of campus police, in the final e-mail.
Gunter said e-mails have been sent in other situations as well. But he said the college is reviewing its crisis policy after the Virginia Tech shootings and is looking at programs that would allow the school to text-message students to notify them of threats.
He said a poll showed that only four students in Gannon's incoming freshmen class -- about 500 strong -- said they didn't carry cell phones. That indicates text-messaging would be one of the best ways to reach students in emergency situations, he said.
Gannon senior Jenny Stewart said she was pleased with the university's decision to send e-mails telling students of the threat.
"They didn't know if it was legitimate," she said before Cantu's arrest had been announced. "They did the responsible thing and notified us."
Stewart said she wasn't intimidated by the threat, even though she said Virginia Tech remains on students' minds.
"It doesn't make me nervous," she said. "It makes me sad to think that someone would do something like this."
Gannon continued to operate while the police and FBI investigated the threat, but stepped-up security patrols were visible on campus.
Six Erie police officers were in and out of the buildings at Gannon throughout the morning, and all seven of Gannon's police officers were on patrol as well, college spokeswoman Jennifer Mailey said.
Foulk, Kwitowski and other officials, including Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott and Gannon President Antoine Garibaldi, announced Cantu's arrest at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Garibaldi said he appreciated the fast work by the authorities.
"We took this very, very seriously," Garibaldi said.
The school received dozens of calls from concerned parents, faculty and students, he said. He said any student who did not attend classes Wednesday would be given the chance to make up their work.
Staff writer Steven M. Sweeney contributed to this report.
KARA RHODES can be reached at 870-1858 or by e-mail.
Valerie Cantu, 19, has been charged with making terroristic threats and harassment in connection with an anonymous phone call threatening "another massacre" on Gannon University's campus. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 4 in front of District Judge Tom Robie.
Motive for Gannon 'massacre' message remains unclear
By Kara Rhodes
kara.rhodes@timesnews.com
It took investigators just nine hours to find out who threatened "another massacre" on Gannon University's campus in a call to a Gannon student.
But they still haven't answered why Valerie Cantu, 19, made a cell phone call apparently evoking the April 16 Virginia Tech shootings that left 32 victims and the gunman dead.
Erie police charged Cantu, a former Gannon student, with making terroristic threats and harassment. Erie 2nd Ward District Judge Paul Urbaniak set her bond at $25,000. Police said she admitted making the call.
"No one is going to take these types of threats in this climate lightly," Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk said Wednesday.
Foulk said he took the words "another massacre" in the call as a reference to the mass murder at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He would not talk about what Cantu's motive was in making the call.
Erie police Capt. Frank Kwitowski said Cantu, who is pregnant, turned herself in about 10 a.m. Wednesday, about nine hours after an 18-year-old Gannon student received an anonymous phone call advising her "don't go to school, there is going to be another massacre."
Cantu's preliminary hearing is May 4 in front of Erie 4th Ward District Judge Tom Robie.
The student immediately notified campus security of the phone call.
Gannon security, in turn, notified police and Foulk. The FBI's help was summoned, and by 9:30 a.m. the call had been traced to Cantu's cell phone, Kwitowski said. Cantu lives in the 700 block of West 16th Street.
Gannon responded to the threat by setting in motion its crisis plan, which included sending e-mails about the threat to all students, faculty and staff.
The first e-mail was sent at 5:19 a.m. Follow-up e-mails were sent at 11:01 a.m. and 12:05 p.m.
"I am happy to report that the person responsible for making the threat of violence against a Gannon student has been identified and is currently in custody at the Erie Police Department," wrote Don Gunter, Gannon's head of campus police, in the final e-mail.
Gunter said e-mails have been sent in other situations as well. But he said the college is reviewing its crisis policy after the Virginia Tech shootings and is looking at programs that would allow the school to text-message students to notify them of threats.
He said a poll showed that only four students in Gannon's incoming freshmen class -- about 500 strong -- said they didn't carry cell phones. That indicates text-messaging would be one of the best ways to reach students in emergency situations, he said.
Gannon senior Jenny Stewart said she was pleased with the university's decision to send e-mails telling students of the threat.
"They didn't know if it was legitimate," she said before Cantu's arrest had been announced. "They did the responsible thing and notified us."
Stewart said she wasn't intimidated by the threat, even though she said Virginia Tech remains on students' minds.
"It doesn't make me nervous," she said. "It makes me sad to think that someone would do something like this."
Gannon continued to operate while the police and FBI investigated the threat, but stepped-up security patrols were visible on campus.
Six Erie police officers were in and out of the buildings at Gannon throughout the morning, and all seven of Gannon's police officers were on patrol as well, college spokeswoman Jennifer Mailey said.
Foulk, Kwitowski and other officials, including Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott and Gannon President Antoine Garibaldi, announced Cantu's arrest at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
Garibaldi said he appreciated the fast work by the authorities.
"We took this very, very seriously," Garibaldi said.
The school received dozens of calls from concerned parents, faculty and students, he said. He said any student who did not attend classes Wednesday would be given the chance to make up their work.
Staff writer Steven M. Sweeney contributed to this report.
KARA RHODES can be reached at 870-1858 or by e-mail.
Valerie Cantu, 19, has been charged with making terroristic threats and harassment in connection with an anonymous phone call threatening "another massacre" on Gannon University's campus. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 4 in front of District Judge Tom Robie.