Parent arrested after alleged shooting threat

CLOVIS — A Clovis parent was arrested Wednesday after allegedly threatening to shoot up his child’s middle school.

Gattis Middle School and Clovis High School Freshman Academy were on lockdown for just over an hour following the threat reported around noon Wednesday, school officials said.

That was all the time it took for police to locate and arrest Carlos Anchondo, 33, for interference with members of staff and interference with the educational process, according to a news release from Clovis police.

“The parent wanted a document, the school (Gattis) said they couldn’t have the document,” Clovis Municipal Schools Superintendent Jody Balch told The News. “Then he walked out the door, made a statement to a custodian about wanting to shoot up the place.”

The custodian notified other staff, who immediately put the school on the lockdown and notified parents, the public, and CMS staff, Balch said.

Classes continue as usual during a “Level 1 Lockdown,” Balch said, but all the exterior doors are locked.

“Anchondo was angry that he had not been given information he demanded about his child’s attendance,” said the CPD release. “Anchondo was not listed as the primary custodian of the child.”

Officers were stationed at both Gattis and the Freshman Academy, CPD said, as Anchondo had children at both schools.

CPD and Curry County Sheriff officers located and detained Anchondo around 1 p.m. on the 700 block of Mitchell Street, and the school lockdown was lifted minutes later. He was booked into the jail just after 2:30 p.m. and remained there Wednesday evening without bond, records show.

Balch said he didn’t recall hearing of threats from a parent before, “not of that nature.”

“We’ve got lots of parents that get mad for one reason or another but I’ve not heard any claim (of a shooting).”