COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — An Edison Park elementary school was evacuated Monday after a janitor threatened to bring a gun to school and shoot a fellow janitor in the head, prosecutors said.
Carlos Ramirez, 45, appeared in bond court Tuesday on charges of threatening a school or person on school grounds.
"Threats made in public schools will not be tolerated," Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. said Tuesday before setting bail at $50,000 and banning Ramirez from CPS property.
"He needs to stay away from all Chicago schools," the judge said. "Nursery school, day care. I don't care. You're not to go near them."
The trouble started Monday afternoon when Ramirez, a part-time janitor, showed up for work at Ebinger Elementary, 7350 W. Pratt Ave., Assistant State's Attorney Erin Antonietti said in court Tuesday.
Ramirez was supposed to be filling in for another janitor, prosecutors said, but that man also appeared for work. The pair allegedly argued over who would perform which duties.
A third janitor, the man who covers night shifts, arrived about 2:30 p.m., according to Antonietti. Prosecutors allege Ramirez told the night janitor he planned to go home, get his gun and shoot their co-worker in the head following their argument.
Students were still present at school at the time, Antonietti said.
The threat was reported to Ebinger's principal, who placed the school on "lockdown status," according to prosecutors.
Police evacuated the school as a precautionary measure, police said, and no one was injured.
A spokesperson for Chicago Public Schools did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ramirez, of the 5700 block of North Maplewood Avenue, was arrested at his home about 5:45 p.m. Monday. According to his public defender, Ramirez is married with two children.
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