Man Charged With Making Threats Against SF Schools: DA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A man has been charged in connection with a series of threats against two San Francisco schools, prosecutors said.

Anatoly Smolkin, 41, made a threatening comment under a social media post by a school on May 11 in which he described shooting people, according to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.

"The Head of School believed these threats were credible as the school had previously reported two similar threats allegedly from Mr. Smolkin to authorities," prosecutors said. "As a result of these threats the head of school asked for police coverage at the school."

Over the next two days, Smolkin visited the school and made "grave threats" towards the people in the building, prosecutors said. On the second day, his threats prompted an hours-long lockdown at the schools, prosecutors said.

Police say surveillance footage showed Smolkin at the school and allowed investigators to identify him.

Officers located Smolkin, who was already on probation at the time, and took him into custody in connection with the threats, authorities said.

During his arrest, Smolkin said she would shoot city leaders if he was not released, prosecutors said.

On Friday, prosecutors said they had filed two counts each of making threats of violence at a sensitive location, making criminal threats and resisting arrest against Smolkin.