A man with 34 arrests since 2019 showed up at an Austin elementary school in October 2024.
He banged on the locked glass doors.
He screamed: “I’m going to go inside and kill, I’m gonna find a way to get in.”
The school was Padrón Elementary. The children inside were grade schoolers.
The man, Michael Nnaji, was released on bond. Then he skipped court. Then he got arrested again for trespassing at a gas station while fleeing justice on the school threat charges.
Those charges were dropped too.
Governor Greg Abbott saw enough. He’s taking action.
34 Arrests Since 2019 — And He’s Still on the Streets
The Austin Justice watchdog group documented Nnaji’s criminal history.
34 cases since 2019. Six years of arrests.
Released or had charges reduced by lenient prosecutors — over and over again.
This isn’t someone who fell through the cracks once. This is a system designed to release criminals regardless of how many times they offend.
And that system put him outside an elementary school, threatening to murder children.
Abbott Calls for “Chief State Prosecutor” to Override Progressive DAs
Abbott announced Monday he’s pushing legislation to fix the problem:
“I am calling for legislation that creates a Chief State Prosecutor to actually prosecute criminals like this that DAs in places like Austin refuse to prosecute.”
The concept: When local progressive DAs won’t do their jobs, the state steps in.
A Chief State Prosecutor would have authority to take over cases that local DAs refuse to prosecute.
No more catch-and-release. No more dropping charges. No more ideology trumping public safety.
“Progressive DAs Are Literally Leading to the Murder of Texans”
Abbott didn’t mince words:
“Progressive DAs are literally leading to the murder of Texans. Those DAs must be held accountable and prosecutorial power must be shifted to actual prosecutors.”
This isn’t rhetoric. It’s documented reality.
When prosecutors refuse to prosecute, criminals stay on the streets. When criminals stay on the streets, they commit more crimes. Some of those crimes are murders.
The causal chain is direct. Abbott is naming it.
Elon Musk Backed the Proposal — And Added His Own Idea
Elon Musk endorsed Abbott’s plan on social media:
“This is a great idea! I initially read this as ‘let’s prosecute DAs that refuse to prosecute,’ which is also a good idea.”
He added a laughing emoji. But there’s truth in the joke.
DAs take an oath to enforce the law. When they systematically refuse to prosecute entire categories of crime, they’re violating that oath.
Maybe prosecuting them isn’t a joke. Maybe it’s justice.
The School Threat Case Shows the System’s Complete Failure
Walk through what happened with Nnaji.
October 2024: Threatens to kill children at elementary school.
Released on bond.
Skips court appearance.
December 5: Arrested for trespassing while fleeing justice.
Charges dropped.
At every step, the system had opportunities to protect the public. At every step, the system chose to release the criminal instead.
34 arrests. Multiple felonies. Threats against children.
Still walking free.
Current Texas Law Gives Local DAs Complete Discretion
Under current law, prosecutorial discretion lies entirely with local elected prosecutors.
If Austin’s DA decides not to prosecute certain crimes, there’s no override mechanism.
Voters elected these DAs — often with money from George Soros and other progressive donors. But voters in Austin shouldn’t get to impose their criminal justice ideology on victims throughout Texas.
Abbott’s proposal changes the power structure. State authority would supersede local prosecutors who refuse to do their jobs.
Austin Isn’t the Only Problem
Austin’s progressive prosecutor isn’t unique.
Dallas. Houston. San Antonio. Progressive DAs in major Texas cities have adopted similar policies.
Reduced charges. Declined prosecutions. Early releases. Cash bail elimination.
The results are consistent: Rising crime, repeat offenders, victims whose attackers face no consequences.
Abbott’s Chief State Prosecutor would have jurisdiction everywhere progressive DAs fail.
The Pattern Is National — But Texas Is Fighting Back
Los Angeles. San Francisco. Chicago. Philadelphia. New York.
Soros-backed progressive prosecutors have implemented the same policies nationwide.
The results are the same everywhere: More crime, more victims, more communities destroyed.
Most states haven’t fought back effectively. California recalled one DA but elected another progressive. Other states haven’t even managed that.
Texas is taking a different approach: State-level authority to override local prosecutors who won’t enforce the law.
This Legislation Would Be a National Model
If Texas creates a Chief State Prosecutor position, other red states will follow.
Florida. Georgia. Ohio. States with major cities controlled by progressive DAs but state governments controlled by Republicans.
Abbott’s proposal provides a template: Don’t wait for voters to recall bad prosecutors. Create state authority to prosecute cases they refuse to handle.
“Actual Prosecutors”
Abbott’s phrase deserves emphasis.
He wants to shift power to “actual prosecutors.”
The implication: Progressive DAs aren’t actually prosecuting. They’re social workers with law degrees, more interested in reforming criminals than protecting victims.
An “actual prosecutor” charges crimes. Seeks convictions. Pursues sentences that protect the public.
That’s not what Austin has. That’s not what many major cities have.
Abbott wants to make sure Texas has actual prosecutors — even if he has to create a state-level office to get them.
34 Arrests Later, a Man Threatened to Kill Children
That’s the bottom line.
Michael Nnaji was arrested 34 times. Released or had charges reduced every time.
Then he showed up at an elementary school screaming about killing children.
The system didn’t fail. It worked exactly as progressive DAs designed it.
Abbott is redesigning the system.
“Those DAs must be held accountable and prosecutorial power must be shifted to actual prosecutors.”
Texas children deserve protection. Their parents deserve justice. Their communities deserve safety.
Progressive DAs won’t provide any of that. So Abbott will find prosecutors who will.