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Armed Man Charged With Threatening Stamford's Westhill High, Principal

STAMFORD, Conn. -- A 24-year-old Stamford man was arrested on charges of making threats against Westhill High School and its principal during a tirade directed at a teacher at a local gas station, Stamford police said Sunday.

Photo Credit: File

On Saturday, a Westhill High School teacher who was paying for gas was confronted by an agitated man at the Gulf Station at 1125 E. Main St. who went on a tirade, blaming the principal and Westhill for his troubles, police said.

"They know me up at Westhill," the man said, saying he was "going to go up there and 'shoot the place up' and 'kill the principal,'" said the police report.  

He said his name was Kino and he was "armed and has lots of ammunition," police said.

The teacher, who quickly left as the tirade continued, notified school administration officials, who in turn, notified the Stamford Police Department, according to a statement from Capt. Richard Conklin and Lt. Diedrich Hohn. 

As officers from the Special Investigations Unit attempted to identify this individual, the Uniform Division responded to a report of a man with a handgun in the area of Lawn Avenue, police said.

Patrol units quickly arrested a man with a handgun and narcotics in his possession in the area of 115 Lawn Ave., police said. He was identified as Okino Richards, of 129 Spruce St., Stamford, and taken to headquarters.

Officers watched the surveillance video from the gas station and determined that Richards matched the description provided by the teacher, police said.

Officers then spoke to Richards, who admitted to making the statements and repeated them to the officers, police said.

Richards was charged with first-degree threatening and breach of peace in the gas station incident and held on $250,000 bond. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, second-degree threatening, breach of peace and possession of narcotics in the Lawn Avenue arrest. An additional $250,000 bond was levied on these charges.

Assistant State's Attorney James Bernardi was notified due to the seriousness of the threats. Stamford Police said it was in constant contact with the school administration and advised official of the arrest.

Also, another complainant came forward to report that she was threatened by Richards while he was in possession of the gun, and additional charges are expected, police said. 

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