The FBI has arrested
a Connecticut woman accused of threatening to carry out a mass shooting at a
community college.
Amanda Bowden, 19,
of East Haven, Conn., was taken into custody Tuesday.
Bowden is accused of
threatening to commit a Newtown-style mass shooting at Gateway Community
College in New Haven, Conn.
“As alleged,
this defendent made a series of threats that described in great detail her
intention to carry out a suicidal mass murder at a community college in New
Haven,” said U.S. Attorney David Fein.
According to federal
authorities, Bowden made several threats by text message with a witness
cooperating with investigators between Feb. 4 and Feb 16. She also had text
message and verbal conversations with an undercover officer, discussing her plans
to commit a mass shooting and bombing at Gateway, authorities said.
Bowden claimed to
have guns and claimed that she had constructed at least two napalm-based bombs
at her home in East Haven, according to Fein.
The FBI and New
Haven police chief Dean Esserman notified Gateway Community College President
Dorsey Kendrick about the threats on Feb. 5, according to a school
spokesperson.
“Chief Esserman
and GCC security had been contacted by the FBI, and were told that there was no
imminent danger as a result of the post, but an investigation was
underway,” said Evelyn Gard. “The chief requested that Dr. Kendrick
and GCC security keep the matter confidential until the investigation was
complete.”
Bowden was arrested
on state charges Tuesday. Federal agents searched Bowden’s home in East Haven
after her arrest and did not find any firearms or explosives, according to
authorities.
Bowden appeared in
Milford Superior Court on state threatening charges Wednesday and was then
taken into federal custody and moved to Bridgeport Federal Court, where she
appeared on a charge of false information and hoaxes.
She remains in
custody pending a hearing on March 1.
