OKC Man Arrested For Threatening To Shoot Children

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma City police arrested a man accused of making violent threats against children at four schools in Oklahoma City and Moore, forcing the schools to go on lockdown for two days.

Investigators said 47-year-old Troy Kegel called a friend Nov. 29 because he was upset and wanted to talk about recent events in his life. The friend told police as the conversation progressed, Kegel became angry and threatened to shoot her and her children with an AK-47.  The woman said she was so disturbed by the threats, she called police.

"The violence in the calls were escalating. He started making threats against her and against her family, threatening to harm them and kill them,' said Oklahoma city police MSgt. Gary Knight.

Officers went to Kegel's house that same day to question him. They noticed that Buchanan Elementary School could be seen from his porch. 

Kegel gave the officers permission to search his home, but officers did not find any guns. While there, they became concerned about Kegel's mental health. They took him to the Oklahoma County Crisis Intervention Center for a mental health check.

Officers said while Kegel was at the crisis center, he used his cell phone and the facility's land line to call and threaten local schools.

Police took Kegel from the center and booked him into the Oklahoma County Jail. He's been charged with two counts of planning or threatening violent acts, and two counts of advocating criminal rebellion or treason upon public school grounds.

This isn't the first time protective orders have been filed against Troy Kegel. In March 2008, one woman said Kegel "continues to threaten, harass, and abuse myself and my son at our home and at friends and relatives houses." A protective order was filed against Kegel by another woman in November 2008.

The family involved with Kegel's threats that led to his threats against four metro schools released this statement:

"The family first wishes to graciously thank the Oklahoma police officers, the detectives of the Intelligence Investigation Division of the OKPD, the Moore Police Dept. and the Moore Public Schools for all their incredible efforts in this horrifying ordeal. All involved worked tirelessly for the safety of our family and our community. No words can express our gratitude. Our hope now is to rally with our community to insure that the trouble threats this man made against the innocent children of our Public Schools and against our family never becomes a reality. The safety of our family and our community is our only concern. Thanks again to the OKPD, the Moore PD and the Moore Public Schools."