Police ID suspect in Casa Grande threat

Police have arrested a 19-year-old Arizona man who threatened an act of violence at a school in Arizona, a threat which authorities had previously believed was directed at Petaluma.

The Casa Grande Police Department in Arizona arrested Joshua Adam Bowen on June 5 for making a terrorist threat, said the Petaluma Police Department in a Tuesday night news release.

“With our understanding of the complexities of these types of investigations we were uncertain when the threat could be properly vetted, and together we wanted to ensure our community was aware of a potential threat,” police said in the release.

Petaluma City School District Superintendent Matthew Harris had notified parents at approximately 7:30 p.m. June 1 of a reported threat of violence specific to Casa Grande and its June 10 graduation.

In response to questions from the Argus-Courier, Harris texted that the school was not under lock down at that time, but there would be a heavier police presence on campus through the week.

Federal and local authorities determined the following day, June 2, that the threat of gun violence apparently directed at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma was not related to the Petaluma school.

“The recent threat to the safety of students and staff at Casa Grande is unsettling, stressful, and heartbreaking,” Harris said in an email.

“Nausea,” said Angelina, a mother of a Casa Grande sophomore who declined to provide her last name, as she described her initial feeling after reading the Wednesday email.

She added that she discussed the threat with her daughter later that evening. And even though she remains cautious, Angelina said the threat won’t make her keep her daughter home from school during the last week of the school year.

“She’s very strong-willed and independent,” Angelina said as she gazed toward her daughter, who was heading from class to the bus circle where Angelina was parked. “If she didn’t want to go, I wasn’t going to make her.”

The threat came a bit more than a week after 19 students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting inside a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school.

One 16-year-old Casa Grande sophomore said that she talked with her classmates about the possibilities surrounding the threat. While she was confident it wasn’t credible, she couldn’t help wondering.

“I also felt like there’s a chance that it could be real and serious, so I’m kind of on the line and it’s confusing,” she said.

Harris said classes and events will continue as planned.

“Our graduating seniors deserve to celebrate such a significant accomplishment together on June 10, especially given all we’ve come through as a community over these past two years,” Harris said in the letter to parents. “It is a top priority for Petaluma City Schools that we are able to celebrate with a safe and successful end of the year and commencement ceremony.”

While it was not clear how police were notified of the threat to begin with, the Tuesday night news release indicated that Bowen had referred to a June 10 act of violence at Casa Grande School through an online comment.

Although the threat was determined not to be related to Petaluma, there will be increased police presence at commencement activities.

For anyone feeling anxious or overwhelmed due to recent events, on-call counselors are available at 707-778-4959.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that investigators have identified a suspect and the appropriate authorities have been notified.

Amelia Parreira is a staff writer for the Argus-Courier. She can be reached at amelia.parreira@arguscourier.com or 707-521-5208.