A 29-year-old man has been arrested and charged with threatening to attack an elementary school in Lubbock, Texas. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad Meacham.
Stephen Patrick Furr was charged with interstate threatening communications following his arrest on Monday afternoon. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda 'Amy' R. Burch on Wednesday morning.
"The foresight of a single tipster – coupled with the prompt action of law enforcement – may have saved dozens of young lives," stated 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 commented on the case, saying, "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 remains committed to community protection and encourages vigilance among the public.
According to a criminal complaint, the FBI received a tip about threats posted by Mr. Furr on BlueSky, a microblogging site, on February 2nd. His posts suggested intentions to purchase a gun and mentioned living near an elementary school.
His messages escalated from musings about acquiring a firearm to explicit statements about planning a school shooting: "Will be fun to legally shoot up a school," he posted alongside other alarming comments.
Additionally, Mr. Furr shared images from the March 2019 Christchurch shootings in New Zealand.
On February 3rd, agents identified Mr. Furr as the account user and visited him at his Lubbock residence where he reportedly displayed erratic behavior and refused cooperation until verifying their identities through presidential confirmation.
Family members informed officers that Mr. Furr had also issued threats against them.
A criminal complaint serves as an allegation rather than evidence; defendants like Mr. Furr are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court proceedings.
If convicted, Stephen Patrick Furr could face up to five years in federal prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency alongside Lubbock Police Department assistance while Assistant U.S Attorney Jeffrey Haag prosecutes this case furthering legal processes ahead accordingly
For reporting potential threats or suspicious activities within communities nationwide contact FBI via hotline number provided: 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov