Mario Bernal, a 23-year-old former camp counselor, has been arrested after allegedly threatening to recreate the Columbine High School shooting if the Christian summer camp he worked at fired him. The incident occurred at Christian Camp Cho-Yeh in Livingston, Texas, where Bernal was reportedly facing termination for mistreatment of children. Law enforcement has charged him with terroristic threats, with police emphasizing the seriousness of threats against children.
Authorities arrested Bernal on Sunday over ‘terroristic threats’ made to the camp, as reported by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest followed reports that Bernal had allegedly threatened to create the next Columbine shooting if the camp fired him. His comments, as detailed in an arrest warrant affidavit, suggest a level of premeditation and hostility toward the camp’s management.
Bernal was reportedly facing termination over cruel behavior and mistreatment of children. According to Fox 26 Houston, the camp fired Bernal after at least one worker observed him locking up a group of children in a hot room and refusing to let them leave, which they described as a form of ‘discipline.’
Police received reports of the threats and apprehended Bernal near the camp entrance after spotting him in a vehicle. Livingston Police Department emphasized the critical importance of taking threats against children seriously. Police Chief Matt Parrish stated that the community, especially the children, could not afford to have such threats.
Bernal remains in custody at Polk County Jail, with records indicating he is being held on a $250,000 surety bond. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about the safety of minors in youth-oriented environments and the potential for individuals in such roles to pose a threat, especially when there are underlying issues of misconduct and poor treatment of children.