Police: Teen arrested in connection with threat made against Graham Elementary School

Austin police arrested Giana Castillo, 17, on Tuesday and charged her with terroristic threat, a third-degree felony, in connection with a threat to Graham Elementary School, officials announced Friday.

The arrest came after the FBI received a tip concerning online statements made on an Instagram account connected to Castillo, police said.

Although law enforcement authorities don't suspect a continued threat against Graham Elementary, school officials increased Austin district police presence at the campus throughout the week as a precaution, according to a letter the district sent to parents and guardians Thursday.

The campus also conducts weekly safety audits of the doors, Graham Principal Bardo Montelongo told families in the letter.

"I understand how difficult this information feels to receive and I am deeply saddened to be sharing it," Montelongo said in a second letter sent to families Friday. "As your campus leader, I am incredibly grateful that through the collaboration of our local law enforcement agencies, our campus remains safe."

Local FBI contacted Austin district police late Tuesday evening about the investigation into the threat made against the school, Montelongo said.

“We’re committed to keeping our community safe and have taken measures to prevent any threats," Austin district Police Chief Wayne Sneed said in a statement Friday.

The district is hiring enough police to have officers at every elementary campus, in compliance with House Bill 3, which state leaders passed in 2023, Sneed said.

Castillo was in Travis County Jail as of Monday afternoon, Travis County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kristen Dark said. Court records showed Castillo's bail set at $100,000, but she hadn't fulfilled all the requirements of her bail, Dark said.

District officials plan to hold a meeting Monday to discuss campus safety with Graham Elementary parents.

The investigation into the incident is still ongoing, according to Austin police.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that Castillo remained in jail as of Monday afternoon.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Police: Teen arrested in connection with threat made against Graham Elementary School