12-year-old Makes School Shooting Threat, Mother Refuses to Let Officers Search Home; Search Warrant Leads to Recovery of Firearms
Springfield, Mass. — On Thursday March 14th at approximately 2:30 p.m. members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) under the direction of Captain Brian Keenan, Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS), and members of the A.T.F. Boston Field Division, Springfield Field Office executed a search warrant at an apartment on the 100 block of White Street leading to two arrests and the seizure of two large-capacity firearms.
Springfield Police Officers in the Student Support Unit received information that a 12-year-old made comments about having access to firearms, bringing a gun to school and using it. Officers contacted the students’ mother, Lilly Casanova, and asked to perform a home visit to ensure the 12-year-old did not have access to firearms. The mother stated there is no access to weapons and said the police will not be coming into her home without a warrant. In recent memory, the Detective Bureau does not remember any time a parent did not allow officers to search a home after a child was identified for making a school shooting threat or hoax threat.
On Thursday Detectives received additional information that a video existed with the same 12-year-old in possession of a firearm. No one who lives in this home has a license to carry.
Detectives applied for and were granted a search warrant for the home. Around 2:15 p.m. Thursday Detectives executed the search warrant at the apartment on White Street. Two residents, Ramon and Nathan Gonzalez were detained during the search. During a search of the home a firearm loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition was recovered and an additional 15 round magazine loaded with 13 rounds was seized. Also recovered a second firearm loaded with five rounds of ammunition, another high-capacity magazine capable of holding 12 rounds of ammunition and 81 rounds of various ammunition.
Detectives arrested 24-year-old Ramon Gonzalez and 20-year-old Nathan Gonzalez. Additionally, the mother, 40-year-old Lilly Casanova, will be criminally charged.
24-year-old Ramon Gonzalez of Springfield is charged with:
- Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm
- Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device (Three Counts)
- Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card (Two Counts)
- Improper Storage of a Large-Capacity Firearm near a Minor (Two Counts)
20-year-old Nathan Gonzalez of Springfield is charged with:
- Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm
- Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine/Feeding Device (Two Counts)
- Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card
- Improper Storage of a Large-Capacity Firearm near a Minor
