POINSETT COUNTY, AR (KAIT) – A student who made threats to "shoot up" Harrisburg High School earlier this week appeared in court Thursday.
Police arrested 18-year-old Preston Downs on February 22 after he was overheard saying he wanted to "shoot up the school."
In court Downs' attorney requested that his $100,000 cash only bond be reduced.
The judge changed the cash only bond to a $150,000 surety bond on the condition that a mental evaluation be completed before Downs can bond out.
Once the judge reviews the mental evaluation, he will revisit the bond decision.
According to the sheriff's office, officers were requested to come to the school that morning. Downs was not at school that day. Officers arrested the student and he was charged with first degree terroristic threatening involving a school.
Poinsett County Sheriff Larry Mills said no plans of a school shooting have been found, and that no one else has been arrested in connection to a threat made against the school last week.
He also said rumors being spread about a possible gun being found at the school are not true.
Sheriff Mills said after further investigation, most of what Downs said turned out to be empty threats, but he said, "In light of what has happened all around us, you can't take these matters lightly and they have to all be taken serious."
Sheriff Mills says another court date will be set after the mental evaluation, but he does not know how long it will take.
Downs is still in custody.
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