TGSO Officials Release More Information on Christoval Bomb Threat

A 16-year-old juvenile at Christoval High School was responsible for today’s bomb scare that evacuated both the elementary and high school campuses this morning, said Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Lt. Christina Lopez. The male juvenile is in custody and was transported to the Tom Green County Juvenile Detention Center, Lopez said.

According to Lopez, at 9:05 a.m., Christoval High School Principal John Choate ordered the evacuation of the high school after receiving a bomb threat. Later, school authorities and law enforcement discovered a social media posting from the student that depicted what Choate and others thought could be a bomb or explosive device. The posting may have added weight to the threat.

High school students at Christoval who saw the posting told us the photo looked like a “vape with batteries,” or artificial cigarette apparatus.

The elementary school students were at the high school when the high school was evacuated. They were transferred to the Christoval Baptist Church. High school students evacuated to the Christoval Community Center. Parents were asked to pick up their children at those locations.

The bomb squad from the 17th Security Police Squadron at Goodfellow AFB was called to sweep Christoval ISD buildings for bombs. The sweep found nothing in any CISD structure, Lopez said; and Superintendent David Walker said that parents and students are now able to return to their classrooms to retrieve belongings and class work. However, classes for today (Thursday) have been suspended.

Lopez thanked the assisting agencies, including the Christoval VFD, Pecan Creek VFD, Goodfellow AFB 17 SPS, Texas Rangers, and special rangers from the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Christoval is a small, rural town about 30 miles south of San Angelo on U.S. 277.

UPDATE

Before the threat to the school today, it was already discussed that Friday will be a teacher work day and Monday is a bad weather day. So there will be no school for students on those days. School will be resuming Tuesday, April 19th. 

UPDATE: Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office

The initial call for the bomb threat was received by Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office at 9:05 a.m. Deputies were dispatched and met with Principal John Choate.

Choate informed the responding units that the school administration had received information of a possible bomb threat. Per school protocol, Principal Choate evacuated the facility and all students, including elementary students who were at the high school for a field day. 

A 16-year-old juvenile was arrested with a Hoax Bomb, a Class A Misdemeanor and False Alarm or Report Emergency, a State Jail Felony. The juvenile was released to the Tom Green County Juvenile Detention Center.   

The video that was posted by the juvenile on a social media website showed in the video what they described as an explosive device. The juvenile made threats against students in the video.

At 1:30 p.m. Christoval ISD was given the all clear after the bomb threat forced the evacuation of its high school campus. The school remained closed for the rest of the day, and students are scheduled to return on Tuesday, April 19.

The case is still active and under investigation.

The Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Goodfellow Air Force Base 17th Security Forces Squadron, Christoval and Pecan Valley volunteer fire departments, the Texas Rangers and the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Special Rangers Unit.