Update: Additional Arrest Made in Connection with Shooting Threat

Update: Additional Arrest Made in Connection with Shooting Threat

Springfield, Mass. — On Tuesday March 26th at approximately 6:30 a.m. members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested 40-year-old Lilly Casanova on the 100 block of White Street on firearms charges.

Springfield Police Officers in the Student Support Unit received information that a 12-year-old made comments about having access to firearms and bringing a gun to school. 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. Detectives then received additional information that a video existed with the same 12-year-old in possession of a firearm, making this threat more credible. 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 March 14th, 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. Casanova was not home during the search warrant. FIU Detectives then applied for and were granted a warrant for her arrest leading to her being taken into custody Tuesday morning.

40-year-old Lilly Casanova of Springfield is charged with:

Arrest Warrant
– Possession of a Large-Capacity Firearm (Three Counts)
– Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card
– Improper Storage of a Large-Capacity Firearm near a Minor

24-year-old Ramon Gonzalez of Springfield was previously charged with: