A man who threatened to shoot Bell Gardens High School on social media was found with stolen guns, ammunition and a bulletproof vest, police said.
Rene Alvizo, 21, of Bell Gardens, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of making terroristic threats, grand theft of a firearm and possession of stolen property after an investigation of a social media post that featured images of a firearm and Bell Gardens High School.
“We don’t know what the motive is at this point,” Police Chief Scott Fairfield said Monday at a news conference. “Our job is to go back and really dig down and find out why the threat was made, what the intent was… and see if we can determine if others were involved, etc.”
Fairfield said Alvizo did not attend Bell Gardens High School.
On Sunday afternoon, police learned of a video posted to social media showing a suspect with a gun and footage of Bell Gardens High.
“The video caption read: ‘Uh-oh, don’t come to tomorrow School‘” Fairfield said.
Police identified Alvizo as a suspect using social media account information and began surveillance at various locations.
On Sunday night, investigators reportedly saw Alvizo and another person loading a large suitcase into a vehicle. Alvizo got into the back seat and the other person was driving.
Police stopped the vehicle and the driver agreed to a search, authorities said.
In the suitcase, police allegedly found two stolen Glock pistols that were similar to the ones seen in the social media post. Police also found loaded magazines, loose rounds and a ballistic vest, Fairfield said.
Alvizo and the driver were arrested, though the driver was released pending further investigation.
