A U.S. Marine Corps veteran landed behind bars this week after allegedly threatening violence against a Texas high school and the Houston Zoo, culminating in a dangerously fast police chase that could have ended far worse.
According to ABC News, Joshua Finney, 38, was arrested after reportedly sending threatening messages involving Morton Ranch High School in Katy, Texas, and the Houston Zoo, while later leading police on an eight-mile, high-speed chase before being apprehended with a loaded firearm and nearly 40 rounds of ammunition.
Authorities say the situation began when Finney allegedly shared messages via Facebook to a relative, expressing his intent to target the high school and zoo, complete with self-portraits of him holding firearms.
Fast Chase, Loaded Car, And Risky Maneuvers
When confronted by police in Katy on Tuesday, Finney fled, taking officers on a breathless pursuit that clocked speeds up to 110 miles per hour. The chase included driving on the shoulder, weaving through traffic, and going the wrong way toward police cars and other drivers.
“[Finney] 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,” a magistrate told ABC 13 in a statement that underlines just how narrowly tragedy was avoided.
Upon stopping Finney’s vehicle, authorities found a loaded firearm and nearly four dozen rounds of ammunition inside the car—a combination no sane society wants tearing through traffic.
School District Pushes Back On Threat Claims
Despite the intensity of the situation, the Katy Independent School District was quick to point out that there was no formal or active threat ever verified against Morton Ranch High School. This differs sharply from the account given in initial media reports.
In a statement to ABC 13, a district spokesperson clarified, “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 district’s messaging may reflect caution, or perhaps concern for public image, but the video evidence showing Finney driving past the high school raises questions about how close things came to going off the rails.
Court Appearance Delayed As Mental Health Questions Arise
Finney didn’t make it to his probable cause court appearance on Wednesday. Instead, officials said he’s currently being held in a mental health unit, which is revealing, if not entirely surprising, given the chaos and messaging linked to this case.
His absence didn’t delay the process much, as the court moved forward with charges including harassment, evading police, and illegal possession of a weapon—a charge triggered by his reportedly violent and extensive criminal past. By Thursday, Finney's bond was boosted dramatically: now set at $10 million, signaling just how seriously the court is taking the potential danger he posed.
Underlying Issues Cannot Be Ignored
The fact that Finney is a military veteran complicates this already troubling story. His service to the nation should be honored, but it also raises the question many Americans keep asking: Are we doing enough to support veterans once their uniforms come off?
None of these excuses his allegedly reckless and dangerous behavior, but it should raise concerns about how a former Marine ends up weaving through traffic with weapons after talking about school shootings on social media.
With the investigation still active, authorities are continuing to piece together the timeline and motivations behind Finney’s actions. In the meantime, parents, students, and local law enforcement remain on alert, even if the school district insists there was never a confirmed threat. This could have been far worse, and the fact that it wasn’t may be more a matter of luck than anything else.
