The teenage cousin of the perpetrator behind the Uvalde, Texas school shooting in 2022 has been arrested after allegedly making threats to commit a similar act of violence at a school.

Nathan James Cruz, aged 17, was taken into custody and is facing charges of making a terroristic threat towards a public place and a terroristic threat against a family member. The shooter responsible for the previous tragedy, Salvador Ramos, took the lives of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School using an assault rifle and tactical vest.

Cruz’s mother reported his threats to the police after her daughter informed her about his intentions to carry out a similar attack. She expressed particular concern due to Cruz’s probation status, his intoxication during the incident, and the fact that their residence is located near an elementary school. Cruz’s sister also disclosed that he had made threats while she was driving him, mentioning shooting her and targeting a school. Moreover, the mother claimed to have overheard a phone conversation in which Cruz was attempting to procure an AR-15-style assault rifle, the same type used in the Uvalde shooting.

Cruz denied making any threats during an interview with a detective after his arrest.