18-year-old Austin Lyle of Surry County, North Carolina was arrested back in August after authorities say he made threats to commit a school shooting at North Surry High School. Lyle allegedly told a friend that he was going to shoot up the school and had made a list of targets. His friend notified the school’s resource officer who notified local police. Police searched Lyle’s home and found two AR-style rifles and a handgun.

Lyle was charged with communicating threats and was held on a $750,000 bond. He was also charged under North Carolina’s new red flag law. However, Lyle has recently been released on a reduced bond of $25,000. Even though I understand the concept of innocent until proven guilty, releasing someone who made explicit threats to shoot up a school on a relatively low bond seems like an error in judgment to me. Lyle was said to be released into the custody of his parents.

Hopefully, this story doesn’t have a tragic ending.