Oxford Man Threatened To ‘Shoot Up’ Aviation School Graduation: Police

STRATFORD, CT — An Oxford man is accused of threatening to “shoot up” graduation at the Stratford School for Aviation, according to Connecticut State Police.

Two witnesses contacted Connecticut State Police on Feb. 17 regarding a student who they said made threatening comments at the school.

One witness told police that the student, identified as Joseph Cyr, was accused of saying in December that he was going to “shoot up graduation.”

The witness also accused Cyr of making comments on Feb. 16 to his classmates implying that if he got “kicked out” of school, he would turn the airport into a “crater” and that he knew where some of the classmates lived, according to police.

The witness said they advised school staff of the comments, but also wanted to speak with police about the matter, according to police.

Police said a second witness accused Cyr of saying in December that he was going to “shoot up” graduation and that he was going to bring a friend or possibly a coworker with him. The second witness also said that one of Cyr’s classmates asked him on Feb. 16 what would happen if he got kicked out of school, according to police.

“According to the second witness, Cyr responded, ‘If I go down, everyone is going down with me’ and implied the airport would become a ‘crater,’” police wrote in a news release. “The second witness told investigators that the comments allegedly made by Cyr caused them to fear for their safety.”

Police contacted administrators at the Stratford School for Aviation, who said they were aware of the allegations and had already begun an administrative investigation, according to the news release.

Cyr, 21, was arrested Feb. 18 on a warrant and charged with second-degree breach of peace and second-degree threatening. He was released after posting a $50,000 bond with a court date of Feb. 23.