Katy Marine Corps veteran accused of threatening to shoot up school and Houston Zoo: Sources

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A Marine Corps veteran who, according to ABC13 sources, allegedly threatened to shoot up a Katy high school and the Houston Zoo before taking police on a high-speed chase - after which investigators say he was stopped with a loaded gun and dozens of rounds of ammunition - had his bond raised to $10 million on Thursday.

Joshua Finney, 38, is accused of sending threatening Facebook messages to a relative. Charging documents state Finney told the relative, "I'm going to your son's school to kill all the other kids." In another message, investigators say he threatened to shoot up the Houston Zoo. According to court documents, the relative also showed investigators that Finney sent her posing with weapons.

The relative who police say was threatened does not have a student enrolled in Katy ISD schools, records show.

A source told ABC13 that the threat was made against Morton Ranch High School, adding that police say they have video of Finney driving by the campus.

A Katy ISD spokesperson disputes the ABC13 story.

"The Harris County Sheriff's Office confirmed with District Police that there was no active threat, nor any prior threat to Morton Ranch High School. The information reported in this story is inaccurate," the spokesperson said in a statement.

When law enforcement attempted to stop and confront Finney on Tuesday, investigators say he took off. A magistrate said he "evaded for eight miles at speeds of 110 miles per hour, driving on the shoulder, weaving through lanes, driving the wrong way head-on at two patrol vehicles and innocent motorists."

Charging documents state Finney stopped only after reaching the Katy home of the relative he threatened - there, they say, they found a loaded gun inside his truck and 39 rounds of ammunition.

Finney did not appear for his first probable cause court appearance on Wednesday. The magistrate said he was being held in a mental health unit.

Sources told ABC13 that federal investigators are also looking into the matter. Records show Finney's case has an investigative hold.

He is charged with evading police, harassment, and illegally possessing a weapon - something he was barred from having because of his lengthy, and at times violent, criminal history.

For more updates on this story, follow Shannon Ryan on Facebook, X and Instagram.