Man Threatened to Take Jonathan Law High School Hostage, Warrant States

By Brian McCready, Patch Editor

A Milford man was arrested for threatening after he allegedly said in a bar that he “was going to to take Jonathan Law High School hostage,” the Connecticut Post reports.

James Piccirillo, 48, who lives adjacent to Jonathan Law High School, was formally charged over the alleged threatening remarks he made about the high school.

The FBI learned of the alleged threat from Piccirillo’s friend, the Post reports. Piccirillo’s friend describes the suspect as a volatile and prone to violent outbursts, the Post reports.

The alleged threat was taken seriously enough that the FBI also investigated, the paper reports.

What Milford and State police found at Piccirillo’s house is also eye-opening. The found numerous guns, a 3-inch commercial grade firework mortar, and several knives, the Post reports.

Milford police said they learned of the alleged threat on October 17 against Jonathan Law High School.

Piccirillo has said he wasn’t serious about his comments about Jonathan Law, according to the Connecticut Post.

After receiving the information, police immediately began their investigation regarding the threat made by a Lansdale Avenue resident, which was not directed at anyone specifically at the school, police said.

Police interviewed the resident and determined there was no present threat to the school community. Based on the investigation, the resident was admitted to a secure medical facility for an evaluation.

Investigators secured an arrest warrant for Piccirillo on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, at approximately 9:30 am, Piccirillo was released from the secure medical facility and taken into police custody regarding the above mentioned arrest warrant.

Piccirillo was charged with second-degree threatening, illegal possession of explosives, and illegal possession of an assault weapon, and held on $250,000 bond.

Piccirillo was transported to Milford Superior Court where he was arraigned for the above listed charges. He is currently incarcerated with the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections.