Leigha Simonton, United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
A man has been arrested and charged for allegedly threatening to carry out a shooting at an elementary school in Lubbock, Texas. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham announced that Stephen Patrick Furr, 29, was charged with interstate threatening communications following his arrest on Monday afternoon.
Furr appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda 'Amy' R. Burch on Wednesday morning for his initial hearing.
“The foresight of a single tipster – coupled with the prompt action of law enforcement – may have saved dozens of young lives,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “The adage holds true: If you see something, say something. You may help law enforcement avert a tragedy.”
FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock stated, “The defendant’s concerning social media posts were reported to the FBI, and the resulting law enforcement response ensured no one was harmed.” He added that the FBI and its partners are dedicated to protecting communities and urged public vigilance in reporting suspicious behavior.
According to the complaint filed against him, Furr's threats were made on BlueSky, a microblogging site, where he expressed intentions of purchasing a gun and mentioned living near an elementary school. The threats escalated to claims about planning a school shooting.
Agents identified Furr as the user behind these posts and visited him at his home on February 3rd. The complaint describes Furr as "disheveled and unkempt" during this encounter, reportedly shouting incoherent profanities and refusing to speak until the President confirmed the agents' identities.
Family members contacted by officers claimed that Furr had also made threats against them.
The charges brought against Furr are allegations at this stage; he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. A conviction could result in up to five years in federal prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office - Lubbock Resident Agency along with the Lubbock Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public can report potential threats to authorities by contacting 1-800-CALL-FBI or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
