An Indiana man who allegedly threatened to enter a nearby elementary school and “kill as many people as he could before police could stop him” was arrested on Saturday following an altercation with his wife. Police discovered 47 firearms hidden in various places in his home as well as thousands of dollars worth of ammunition, and promptly took him into custody, where he is being held without bond.
The 60-year old man, identified as Von I. Meyer of Cedar Lake, Indiana, was also charged with felony intimidation, domestic battery and resisting law enforcement after police were called by his wife, who claims he threatened to set her on fire while she was asleep. The couple reside less than 1,000 feet from the school in question.
Police say that because of Meyer’s known affiliation with a motorcycle gang, they are taking the threats and allegations against him very seriously. Meyer’s wife, an employee of the elementary school, didn’t go in to work on Friday due to his threats, but local police beefed up security at all schools in the area to err on the side of caution.
“We just didn’t want to take any chances,” Police Chief Jerry Smith said.
Smith also confirmed that Meyer hadn’t been plotting a school shooting, but rather made the threats in the heat of the moment, which will make a big difference when it comes time for his sentencing.
“If people followed through on all the threats they’ve ever made – things said in anger that they don’t really mean and regret – our population in this country would be half of what it is,” he said. “This was something he said in the heat of an argument. He hadn’t been plotting this.”
Smith says security will continue to be tightened at all local schools due to the Newtown shooting.
Image: Lake County Sheriff’s Dept.