FBI Stops Potential Tragedy in North Carolina
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that an agent prevented a possible crisis by arresting a man from North Carolina who allegedly threatened to harm numerous black children in a kindergarten setting.
Zachary Charles Newell, a 25-year-old from Newport, was taken into custody on Monday and faces charges for making interstate threats, as detailed in a criminal complaint filed on September 2 in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
“The threat of violence against children is profoundly unacceptable,” Patel said in a statement. “The FBI is collaborating with our partners in Carteret County to ensure this individual is held before any actions can be taken. Parents can be assured that we won’t hesitate to act swiftly to safeguard their children and communities.”
Newell allegedly posted a threatening comment on YouTube on August 27, where he used the username “Commentators Hateme” to express his intention to “shoot” a kindergarten class and inflict harm on 20 black children. A day prior, he had also made another violent, racially charged threat via the same account.
Google LLC reported this threat to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center on August 31, which linked the account to registered contact information associated with Newell.
Law enforcement traced the IP address connected to the threats and, on August 31, deputies from the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office approached Newell at his residence. He reportedly admitted to making comments on YouTube.
Following a search of his home, he was initially charged in state court for communicating threats of severe violence against an educational facility. The sheriff’s office later stated that Newell was granted bonds totaling $30,000 by a state magistrate, allowing him to secure release.
That evening, federal authorities took custody of Newell, and additional charges are anticipated from the FBI.
Special Agent James C. Barnacle Jr. emphasized that every child has the right to attend school without fear. He stated, “Your FBI will work alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement to investigate threats made against educational institutions. This situation serves as a warning to those who think they can hide behind a screen to issue violent threats.”
Interestingly, there were no specific schools or educational properties mentioned in Newell’s threats, and currently, there is no immediate danger to Carteret County schools.
Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck commented that the suspect’s remarks were shockingly violent and stemmed from hatred. He stressed the urgency of detaining individuals making such comments, indicating that they would face the fullest extent of the law for their actions.
It’s important to note that the disturbing nature of the suspect’s comments was excluded from this report to avoid further distress.
