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Arrest made in McCallum High School threat thanks to tip from suspect's father

Austin ISD police arrested Antonio Wicks, 18, after the McCallum High School student allegedly made a verbal terroristic threat towards the high school's campus.

AUSTIN, Texas — Before an 18-year-old was arrested in connection to threats made toward McCallum High School, Austin police said that the teen had a plan to kill students with a gun he reportedly bought, court documents state.

And his arrest was made possible thanks to a tip from his own father.

On Feb. 12, Antonio Wicks began making comments that he was planning on going to school to shoot and kill students and officers before committing suicide by cop, the affidavit states.

On Feb. 13, extra police officers were placed at McCallum High School.

Although Wicks allegedly ran away from his home, police said they were able to find him on the morning of Feb. 13 before classes started trying to get back into his residence. 

On Wicks' social media, police said they found pictures of him holding a pistol and holding a photograph of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle that "he was supposed to have just finished making payments on or recently paid off," the affidavit states.

Wicks' father spoke to police officers and said the teen had made comments that he had a plan to kill "students, enemies and other people," the affidavit states. His father also gave police officers a video Wicks had allegedly recorded with his cell phone where he could be heard making threats that he has an AR-15, police said.

Wicks was charged with a Class A misdemeanor. According to online records, he is currently in the Travis County Jail with a bond set at $15,000.

Some students stayed home from school out of fear over the incident.

"She refused to come the next day," Jossianna Arroyo, a mother of a ninth-grade student, told KVUE. "She was like, 'I'm not going. I'm scared.'"

Arroyo believes what Wicks' father did was the right thing.

"Kudos to this dad because that usually is not the case," she said. "What you get is us parents either not knowing that this is happening or kind of protecting their kids at first instead of thinking about the safety of others."

Wicks' father did not want to go on camera Tuesday, but he told KVUE's Pattrik Perez the situation has been tough for his family.

A person close to Wicks' family said he was dealing with bullies at school before making the threats.

Below is the letter sent to families and staff at the high school on Feb. 13:

Dear McCallum High School Families and Staff,

Austin ISD police were notified late last night about a verbal terroristic threat that had been made against our campus. They immediately began an investigation and, out of an abundance of caution, sent extra officers to campus this morning as the investigation was ongoing.

AISD police located and arrested the student off campus early this morning before classes began. Our students and staff remained safe throughout the investigation.

The district takes all such threats seriously. Threats of any kind against our school, students or staff are not tolerated. 

Please emphasize to your children that all such threats—made verbally or over any social media channel—are investigated immediately. Students may be detained or arrested on a charge of making a terroristic threat, even if the threat is not credible. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call me at 512-414-2519. As always, thank you for your support of McCallum High School.

Sincerely,

Principal Michael Garrison

McCallum High School

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