Demetrius Alpha Omega Murray, 33, of Tallahassee, was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to six counts of interstate communication of threats to injure children, according to a July 17 announcement by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Heekin said, “Thanks to the quick investigative work by our local law enforcement partners, this dangerous individual was caught before he could act on the dangerous criminal threats he made, and this successful prosecution by my office ensures he will be kept behind bars where he belongs for several years. Anyone who makes violent criminal threats, especially directed toward innocent children, will face aggressive prosecution by my office.”
Court records indicate that on November 14, 2025, Murray contacted representatives of a California law firm seeking repayment of his defaulted business loan. During multiple calls and emails with the firm’s staff, Murray threatened a school shooting if collection efforts continued and specifically targeted students at Kate Sullivan Elementary School. He sent a video recorded from his vehicle parked beside the school playground in which he directed threats at nearby children and brandished a nine-millimeter handgun.
Law enforcement agencies were alerted quickly after receiving these threats. The Tallahassee Police Department and Leon County Sheriff’s Office responded by locking down Kate Sullivan Elementary School as well as Cobb Middle School and Leon High School nearby. Investigators located Murray in Gadsden County, where deputies took him into custody. He admitted making the telephonic and email threats and showed officers where they could find the handgun depicted in his video; investigators recovered it from that location.
“When someone threatens violence against our schools, we respond immediately and with every available resource,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “These cases create real fear for students, parents, and educators, and we will continue working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to identify those responsible and hold them accountable. I am incredibly grateful for the collaborative efforts that led to this sentence.”
Murray’s sentence includes three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term as well as mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment requirements. The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Tallahassee Police Department; Leon County Sheriff’s Office; Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office; and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K Mountin.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida covers 23 counties including Tallahassee through facilities located in U.S courthouses in Tallahassee, Pensacola and Gainesville; enforces federal laws; defends national security; protects civil rights; secures public funds; advances community safety through collaborations such as Project Safe Childhood—all under direction from the United States Department of Justice—according to its official website.