FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an alleged threat on the campus at Garden City Community have identified the suspect as 39-year-old Alejandro Salazar, according to Garden City Police.
Just after 8a.m. Thursday, the Garden City Police Communications Center received a 911 call indicating a possible active shooter in the library of Garden City Community College.
Police, sheriff's deputies and EMS responded accordingly and cleared the campus to ensure the safety of students and employees. Garden City Community College initiated their lockdown/evacuation procedures during the response. USD 457 also placed all of their schools into a lockout status. No one allowed in or out of the buildings, but classes continued as normal inside.
The initial investigation determined Salazar went to the library and told an employee there was an active shooter inside the library and then indicated it was outside. Salazar was detained by police in the library while law enforcement actively searched and cleared all buildings on campus. After a thorough investigation, the college was released from its lockdown and subsequently dismissed for the day, and law enforcement determined there was not an active shooter on campus. The scene was cleared at 12:30 p.m., and no weapons or evidence of an active shooter were located.
After further investigation, it was determined that Salazar falsely indicated there was an active shooter. The motive behind the incident is unknown, and the investigation is ongoing.
Salazar, who has previous felony convictions for DUIs and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer is in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Criminal Threat, Giving a False Alarm, and Interference LEO.