Englewood teenager arrested for alleged threats against school

ENGLEWOOD -- A 19-year-old Englewood High School student has been arrested for allegedly threatening to "shoot up the school and take hostages," police said Wednesday.

Blake Grayson Hicks, who was recently suspended for disciplinary problems, was arrested Tuesday after several students reported that he had said he hated the school and threatened to take hostages and "shoot up the school," police spokesman John Hoehler said.

The students did not report the comments until they saw Hicks on school grounds Tuesday, Hoehler said in a statement.

He said police officers went to Hicks' home Tuesday and obtained his consent to search his vehicle and home. Officers found a semi-automatic .22-caliber rifle, 280 rounds of ammunition and a paintball gun in Hicks' vehicle. The rifle was enclosed in a gun case and was not loaded, Hoehler said.

Hicks was held on $500,000 bond at the Arapahoe County Jail for investigation of a charge of interference with an educational institution. More charges could be filed, Hoehler said.