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“Troll” held on $250,000 bail for school shooting threat

A 19-year-old man from Washington State threatened to "shoot up every school" within a 100-mile radius. He's currently being held by police, and reportedly told them he's an Internet troll.

 

Chase Hoffberger

IRL

Posted on Dec 18, 2012   Updated on Jun 2, 2021, 5:17 am CDT

A 19-year-old in Washington State is being held on $250,000 bail while authorities investigate a reported post the man made on Facebook in the wake of Friday’s Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

The post in question involved the unnamed man thanking Adam Lanza for his actions and promising to “shoot up every school” within a 100 mile radius of his native Sedro-Woolley if the government decides to take away American citizens’ right to bear arms, something that is not currently up for debate.

Concerned friends quickly told the individual’s parents, who kicked him out of the house on Friday night. Sunday, he turned himself in to authorities, who are looking into whether the man should be charged with harassment with threats to kill, a felony that carries a maximum $10,000 fine, five years in prison, or both.

He has not yet been charged with any crime, and authorities are currently investigating whether or not he actually owns any weapons. In the Facebook post, the man claimed to own a double-barreled shotgun and an AK-47 assault rife. Authorities searched his parents’ home, where he lives, and only found a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun.

The man has reportedly told authorities that he is an Internet troll who likes to post provocative statements online in an effort to get a rise out of friends and followers.

He will remain in jail through Wednesday or until county prosecutors decide whether to file charges.

Photo via StockMonkeys

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*First Published: Dec 18, 2012, 1:10 pm CST