California suspect arrested with 2 guns after threatening school, George Gascon declines to charge: police
Bell Gardens Police Chief Scott Fairfield demanded charges anyway
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A California suspect who allegedly posted threats against a school on social media and was allegedly caught carrying stolen guns almost escaped criminal charges under Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon, according to police.
"On March 21, 2023, the filing District Attorney at Downey Superior Court initially
rejected the entire case, stating they needed additional information regarding the criminal threat," Bell Gardens police said in a statement.
Police said the unnamed suspect is an adult who was allegedly carrying two stolen pistols, body armor, high-capacity magazines and ammunition when police arrested him, but the social media company had not yet turned over information requested by detectives.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The delay prompted the local police chief to go directly to the Democrat DA's office.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon. The DA's office is offering employees assigned downtown a shuttle service after "incidents involving aggressive confrontations" by the public, his office said. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
"Upon receiving the temporary reject, Bell Gardens Police Chief Scott Fairfield contacted the District Attorney's Office and demanded a second review of the case," police said in a statement. "Inconsistencies and issues with the DA's office were addressed."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After the conversation, Gascon's office filed three felony weapons charges against the potential school shooter: possession of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, having a concealed firearm in a vehicle and carrying a loaded handgun.
"The Bell Gardens Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety of students, school staff, and community members and is working in conjunction with the Montebello Unified School District to provide additional officers and police presence at all Bell Gardens Schools," the department said.
"We have no justice and no peace in L.A. under Gascon."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Deputy District Attorney Shea Sanna at the Hannah Tubbs hearing in Antelope Valley Juvenile Court, California on Friday, January 27, 2022. District Attorney George Gascon briefly suspended Sanna without pay last month for allegedly "misgendering" and "deadnaming" the convicted child molester, who allegedly began identifying as female only after his arrest in connection with a 2008 sex assault in Los Angeles. (Dave Buchan, LASD, Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Bell Gardens incident came days after news of a double shooting in Newhall left two people dead, including a 16-year-old.
"This isn’t progress or a reform," Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Hatami, who has a long track record of convicting criminals who target children, told Fox News Digital Wednesday morning. "The juvenile is now going to be charged with murder. Another juvenile is dead. Two families are torn apart. George Gascon's policies have been a complete failure. We have no justice and no peace in L.A. under Gascon."
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The suspect in that case, an 18-year-old suspected gang member, had been accused of a firearms charge as a minor, but Gascon declined to prosecute under a blanket policy avoiding gun charges for juveniles, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Signal newspaper.
Gascon's office disputed that report.
"We regularly file charges against minors for gun possession," Tiffiny Blacknell, Gascon's communications director, told Fox News Digital.