Crime

Mother of child who threatened to bring gun to school arrested in Springfield

The mother initially refused to let police search her home to check if the 12-year-old had access to guns, police said..

By Emily Spatz

1 minute to read

The mother of a child who allegedly threatened to bring a gun to school was arrested in Springfield Tuesday on multiple charges, officials said. She was the third person arrested in connection with the case.

Officials from several law enforcement agencies, including State Police and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, arrested Lilly Casanova, 40, in Springfield early Tuesday morning, according to a press release. 

Earlier this month, Springfield police were informed that Casanova’s 12-year-old child had made comments about having access to guns at home and bringing a gun to school, the department said.

When officers contacted Casanova asking to check the home for firearms, she allegedly refused. 

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“The mother stated there is no access to weapons and said the police will not be coming into her home without a warrant,” a press release read. “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.”

Later, police were informed that there was video of the child in possession of a gun. No one in the house had a license to carry, according to the release. 

Detectives applied for a warrant and carried out a search of the home March 14. They found two loaded guns and several high-capacity magazines, police said.

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That day, two residents of the home — 24-year-old Ramon Gonzalez and 20-year-old Nathan Gonzalez — were arrested, police said. Casanova was not home at the time of that search.

Detectives obtained an warrant for Casanova to be arrested Tuesday.

Casanova is charged with possession of ammunition without a license, improper storage of a large-capacity gun near a minor, and three counts of possession of a large-capacity firearm. Ramon and Nathan Gonzalez are also charged with several counts related to the possession of firearms without a license and improper storage of a gun near a minor. 

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