A teenager from Brooklyn was taken into custody for allegedly making several threats against schools in Texas and Florida. These threats reportedly targeted the families of victims from TikTok’s 2022 Uvalde School shooting, according to officials this week.
The 16-year-old was arrested at his home on May 1 and faces multiple felony charges related to making a terrorist threat, as stated by the Uvalde Police Department on Wednesday.
Besides threatening the families affected by the Uvalde shooting, he is also accused of making hoax reports, or “swatting,” by sending threats to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District via social media in January.
In addition to Uvalde, the teen is reported to have made similar swatting threats to schools and law enforcement in places like San Antonio, as well as Coral Springs and Parkland, Florida.
These threats followed shortly after the incident in Uvalde, with investigators tracing the source to the New York area.
The teenager reportedly showed an interest in active shooter incidents and was monitoring the social media of law enforcement and students in the Uvalde School District.
A three-month investigation, known as “Attorney General,” involved 14 agencies across Texas, Florida, and New York and ultimately led officers to the teen’s home through the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
When investigators searched his residence, they found no weapons and no direct ties to Uvalde or the other locations involved.
Nevertheless, the accusations raised significant concerns regarding school safety, community protection, and the deployment of law enforcement resources, as highlighted by Uvalde police in their Wednesday release.
According to police, the teen has been charged with four misdemeanor counts, one felony count for making a terrorist threat, and for providing false emergency information.
“This operation underscores our dedication to collaborating with partners to ensure that individuals are held accountable for threatening our community,” stated Uvalde Police Chief Homer E. Delgado. “We cannot let physical distance or online anonymity create fear or jeopardize the safety of our schools or neighborhoods.”
A spokesperson from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office mentioned that the case will be pursued in Texas.
The name of the teenager has not been released by authorities due to his juvenile status.
