Mass shooter's cousin arrested for allegedly planning to 'do the same' thing

08 August 2023 , 05:54

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A photo of Uvalde shooter Salvador Ramos, who killed 21 people and used blood to write sickening messages on a chalkboard before police managed to stop his rampage (Image: Police Handout/ZUMA Press Wire Service/REX/Shutterstock)

A year after the Uvalde massacre where a gunman killed 21 people, including 19 children - his cousin was arrested for making alleged threats to 'do the same thing' in a drunken rant to family members.

The boy's mother became concerned when he allegedly told family members that he was planning a violent attack and called the police. She said that her son had been trying to acquire an AR-15 in a private sale, and that the family lived near an elementary school.

The 17-year-old was arrested on Monday morning and charged with making threats to a public place and a family member, according to police reports. The suspect was identified as Nathan James Cruz. Police deemed the threats credible based on the evidence and eye-witness reports provided by family members and his connection to the Uvalde shooting.

A cousin of the Uvalde school shooter has been arrested for allegedly making threats to similarly attack a nearby school (AFP via Getty Images)

An affidavit filed with the report said that Cruz allegedly threatened to shoot his sister in the head and stated that he would 'shoot the school' as well. His mother also told police he had remarked that 'school was starting soon,' which she found worrying amongst the other comments. The parent said that the teen is on probation and was intoxicated when he allegedly made the threats.

Currently, no previous records have been found, but any former charges against the boy would have been filed when he was a minor. He faces a felony charge of making a terroristic threat to the public and a misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat to a family member, jail records show.

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The Uvalde school shooter pictured here before murdering 21 people last year in Texas

Cruz's cousin, Salvador Ramos massacred innocent children aged between nine and 11, as hero teachers sacrificed themselves to save their pupils at the school in Uvalde last May. In the deadliest school shooting since Sandy Hook almost a decade ago, the attacker murdered 19 children and two teachers in a single classroom where cops also put an end to his spree by shooting him dead - bringing the death toll to 22.

During a hearing, it was revealed that Ramos had done something incredibly sick before he took off. Texas House Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, said: “The attacker scooped up the blood of his victims and smeared it into his disgusting message. “What he wrote in innocent blood next to that (whiteboard) was the phrase, 'LOL.'"

Family members of a 17-year-old related to the Uvalde shooter became concerned when their son started making threats and reported him to police (AFP via Getty Images)

Uvalde police were heavily criticized following the incident after facing a litany of troubles getting into the classroom and taking down the shooter - who was firing bullets at close range at young children while police searched for keys.

Ramos shared images of guns and ammunition on Instagram ahead of the school attack before tagging a woman unknown to him and telling her he had “a secret.” The 18-year-old posted the pictures of the weapons four days ahead of his horror gun rampage.

In one photo, he tagged a woman, who has since said she had no idea who he was and tried to strike up a conversation. During a series of messages, he reveals that he has “a secret” that he wants to share. His last message to her is: “Ima air out.”

Extended family members were worried that Cruz would follow in his cousin's footsteps. Bond had not been set on either charge as of late Monday afternoon.

Yelena Mandenberg