Parents react to recent arrests involving teens with guns

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A teen and a minor were arrested for making terroristic threats on social media Monday and parents are concerned.

The McAllen Police Department arrested Alan Zamarron, 17, and a minor after receiving a report of a social media threat.

The threat was sent on Sept. 5 and showed a teen holding a firearm and threatening the viewer.

A second social media threat was sent on Sept. 6, which was viewed by officers on-scene. According to police, the video showed a different teen holding the same firearm and threatening the receiver.

Investigators identified the senders as Zamarron and the minor. 

Zamarron was charged with terroristic threat, unlawful carrying of weapons, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The minor was arrested and charged with terroristic threat, unlawful carrying weapons, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Parents say this type of violence among teens is no shock such as in the case of Maria Elena Aviles, a grandmother of a six-year-old girl.

"It's something very sad," Aviles said. "I believe our children should have peace, happiness, joy, books, and laptops in their hands, not weapons."

According to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, there were nearly 600 juvenile felony offenses in 2023 in Hidalgo County compared to some of the highest areas in the state. Thus, the county ranks within the top ten in Texas.

Community members like Brissia Soto believe the solution to these types of issues begins at home.

“We have to focus on the parents," Soto said. "Like, how are they getting the guns? If the parents are not giving them to them, how are they getting access to that amount of money to purchase from someone else if it is not their parents.”

Soto says children in her family learn about gun safety at an early age.

Mothers like Yvette Lopez say parents must also learn the basics.

“They need to know how to lock their guns if they have any and discuss with their kids about the safety of it and the reason behind owning a gun and having to use one or not to use one," Lopez said. "They needed to understand how dangerous it could be.”

Zamarron is being held on a $12,000 bond and the minor was transferred to Mario E Ramirez Jr. Juvenile Justice Center.