Man in court after being rearrested for threatening school shooting

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A judge denied bail Friday for a veteran charged by prosecutors after he threatened to commit a mass shooting at an elementary school.

Lee Lor has pleaded not guilty to the crime of criminal threats he faces.

Last year, the 39-year-old Marine combat veteran sent more than 350 emails threatening a mass shooting at Shoal Creek Elementary School.

Her defense attorney said the emails were “reprehensible” but were in response to spam about Rachael Ray kitchenware.

The court heard in an email Lor wrote: “If you think this is a joke, laugh. Otherwise, many children will die. »

A judge dismissed the criminal case against Lor earlier this month. A week after his release from prison, where he spent ten months, the police came to his home with a search warrant.

Assistant District Attorney Savanah Howe said she found a loaded gun in his home and arrested him again. They say he also researched ammunition, holsters and the layout of the San Diego school he threatened to shoot up.

“He poses a grave danger to this community. Students, parents and teachers should all feel safe going to school every day,” Howe told reporters.

Lor’s defense attorney, Lucas Hirsty, said the evidence was identical to that in the previous case against his client and fought unsuccessfully to get the veteran released on bail.

“The only difference is that today, October 18, 2024, they refiled the case against Mr. Lor based on the same facts that were previously pleaded and dismissed.”

Superior Court Judge John Pro said the threats Lor made were credible. He highlighted his access to new, unsecured firearms and the “extensive” research he had done on school layout, ammunition and holsters.

He also took a previous gun violence restraining order issued against Lor as a factor when he was denied bail.

“I view the protection of the public and the safety of the victims as the primary considerations…although the defendant has no criminal history, the court is also concerned about the likelihood of this defendant appearing at a future hearing.”

The judge also ordered Lor to have no contact with the principal of Shoal Creek Elementary School.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for next January.