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Maryland man arrested after Santana High e-mail threat

SANTEE, California (CNN) -- Police arrested a young Maryland man after e-mail threats of new violence at California's Santana High School.

Heightened security had been ordered for the school in Santee, California, a San Diego suburb, for Friday after a student received a threat warning of plans to "complete" the job started Monday in a shooting rampage at Santana High.

"We are going to assume that it's serious until proven otherwise," said Sgt. Mike Radovich of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

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Listen to two 911 calls from Santana High School

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A school supervisor distracted the gunman from shooting at least one student, and was shot himself. Correspondent Esther Trouw reports

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Felony Complaint: People v. Charles Andrew Williams (FindLaw)
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TEST Images of the aftermath of the Santana High School shooting in Santee, California
 
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Late Friday, the San Diego County district attorneys office identified a suspect in the e-mail case as Patrick Andrew Smith, 19, of Walkersville, Maryland.

"I can't tell you a whole lot, because no search warrant has been served yet," said Liz Pursell, a spokeswoman for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Two students died and 13 people were wounded in Monday's shootings. Charles Andrew Williams, a 15-year-old freshman boy known to friends as Andy, faces murder, assault and weapons charges in the attack.

Grossmont Union School District Superintendent Granger Ward said the threat made Thursday was sent to a Santana student via instant messaging on the Internet. According to Ward, the message threatened to "complete what Andy hadn't finished."

The message said more violence could be expected Friday, but none materialized.

No consideration was given to canceling classes, Principal Karen Degischer told a school assembly Thursday. She urged the students not to let such threats force them to live in fear, and recommended they wear the school's colors of purple and gold Friday in a show of solidarity.

School re-opened Wednesday, and about 80 percent of the 1,900 students enrolled at Santana showed up for classes Thursday, Degischer said.

A sheriff's spokesman said a second Internet threat was received by a student at neighboring West Hills High School, and that also is under investigation.

A memorial service took place Friday night for the two boys who were killed -- Bryan Zuckor, 14, and Randy Gordon, 17. Meanwhile, four students who said they knew about the planned shooting rampage but didn't tell authorities will be enrolled at other schools, Ward said, out of concern for their safety.

Ward said the four students are not being punished, but he is concerned for their safety.

"We have been in contact with the families of four students who allegedly had prior knowledge," he said. "We are working with these families to determine the best program for their children. This is not a punitive action.

"We are working with them and on a voluntary basis. We are assisting them to have their child enrolled in another program at the school district."

Authorities had previously said three students may have known about Monday's attack.

One of Williams' friends said she had not believed he was serious when he made the alleged threats.

"He said, 'I'm joking. You can trust me. I'm just joking,'" a girl who wished to be identified only as Katy told CNN. She said the episode had left her confused and hurt.

"I can't even figure out what I'm trying to feel right now," she said.

Katy originally thought she would be among those banned, but later said she was not.



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