"Homeless" Guy Threatens to Shoot a Kindergarten Class Via Facebook

[The Original Bamfer]

I don't need an article, ladies, because this unfolded in my network - I know all the deets, ya dig?

So, this guy (26) I went to school with decided he'd make two very similar status updates on Facebook basically saying that if he doesn't get help for being homeless, he's going to shoot a kindergarten class. His few remaining Facebook friends were understandably alarmed by this and reported it to the police.

I found out about this when I saw several status updates from friends with children expressing their grave concern and anger that nothing had yet been done. And it was true - at that point; days after these threats were posted, a public thread was made for the community to discuss the situation and, much to my disgust, the police issued a statement saying that the school district was taking precautions, but that these were most likely "harmless" gibberish. I, along with many others, were furious, especially since we had already had one school shooting in the district. Not long after the blowout on Facebook, he finally was detained... after parents refused to send their children to school. He has a posted bail at $26,000 which I highly doubt anyone would pay. But should he get out on bail, they have set up restrictions keeping him from any social media or internet access. I'm not sure that's a good idea since Facebook could be credited for helping to prevent this threat from becoming a reality. Who's to say, sans internet, that instead of posting a threat, he won't just actually do it? But as I said, I don't think there's a person that would bail him out.

I'll provide a little background about my personal history with this jackass. He was a year above me in grade school but wound up in several of my classes. I never had a direct issue with him, but I could tell there was something very wrong with him. I never heard him speak one word and he would literally rage if someone pissed him off. After school, I never saw him again, but he did send me a friend request on Facebook, and I'm quick to add anyone from high school. He posted a lot of bizarre stuff, but it was tolerable; even entertaining at times. Then he started to post a lot of images relating to children and I was instantly uncomfortable. The straw that broke this camel's back came when he posted a genuine picture of a deceased infant cemented in concrete. I reported it and blocked him immediately after seeing what was incredibly disturbing. But that was a year ago - I can hardly imagine what kind of terrible content he posted in between then and now...

So what are your thoughts? Do you think the police were right in their initial decision not to take any action against him? Is it possible these were nothing more than stupid status updates? How do you think social media may have helped or hurt the situation?

 

[KevanG]

That's pretty messed up. To be honest the cops should have done something sooner as the has been far too many school shootings and the threat of one from someone like that should have been taken seriously.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

That's pretty messed up. To be honest the cops should have done something sooner as the has been far too many school shootings and the threat of one from someone like that should have been taken seriously.

Agreed. I think anyone making threats like that, regardless of their past behavior, should be investigated.

I was in eighth grade when a fifth grader brought a duffel bag full of guns into school intending to shoot a whole list-full of people. He had two friends who were supposed to help him, but thankfully decided not to follow through and, instead, alerted a teacher. When some of the staff cornered the boy, he ran to the restroom. When the police arrived, he shot himself in the head. I'll never forget the sound of that gunshot... while the offender only killed himself, his actions left so many students and staff traumatized. Things like this don't happen in my peaceful town. But they did. Which is why I can't fathom how someone could even joke about such a thing.

 

[Tropico]

Are those the only restrictions? No access to internet and/or social media? No electronic surveillance, psych therapy or some kind of restraining order so that he can't be near any school (if that's even possible)? Every time a tragedy happens the issue on gun control and MENTAL HEALTH always arise, they always say steps should be taken to help these people so a tragedy doesn't happen NEXT TIME. And right now we're seeing the result: it was gibberish, let's restrict his net access. What will that do? Does isolating him further any benefit at all? Where are the measures to prevent the matter, the help they ALWAYS talk about after the fact but never comes?

 

[Boy Scout]

If someone threatens to shoot up a school, you take that **** seriously and prepare. Get the hell out of here with that "harmless gibberish" crap. If parents were concerned enough to bring the matter to your attention, you take it seriously.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

What a self-involved waste of life. It's one thing to be mentally ill. It's another thing to be a complete piece of crap who decides to kill innocent kindergarteners because.... they're the reason he's a failure? I'm not even sure I understand the logic. Well, hopefully he won't be homeless anymore when he's put in a padded cell with like-minded lunatics and parasites.

 

[The Original Bamfer]

I'm on board with all of the previous three posts.

Tropico, I think a psych eval was one of the mandatory needs should he make bail. But what I don't get is why he didn't get one immediately after being detained!

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

I think at the very least he should be taken in for a mental evaluation

 

[NickNitro]

If he threatened the lives of children isn't that grounds for an arrest? Making terrorist threats is a crime I thought.

 

[Enriquespy]

There are nuts and there are evil nuts...

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

I'm schizophrenic and was homeless for a year before and I never threatened anyone or tried to make harm people. These type of mentally ill people are few and far between but sadly it's all that ever gets attention

 

[Spider-Aziz]

They should've sent him to psychic evaluation ASAP
There is a possibility it was simply stupid, but why risk it?

Maybe you were a bit too lenient not reporting him to cops last year

 

[charl_huntress]

So what are your thoughts? Do you think the police were right in their initial decision not to take any action against him? Is it possible these were nothing more than stupid status updates? How do you think social media may have helped or hurt the situation?

Hmmm...I'm assuming the police made that initial decision because they had done some investigation. I would be concerned if he was dismissed and NO sort of investigation was conducted. However, a quick search of the guys information may have not have revealed anything that led to an immediate cause for concern. Plus the reality is people say dumb **** on the internet all the time. The police don't have the resources to investigate all of these matters. Personally, I'm not a big fan of FB or Twitter and don't belong to either.

 

[Hal_Jordan]

Wow...Even homeless people have Facebook now?

 

[The Original Bamfer]

Wow...Even homeless people have Facebook now?

Hence the quotes around "homeless" in the title...

 

[Hal_Jordan]

Hence the quotes around "homeless" in the title...

I thought that it was ridiculous at first too, but after thinking about it, it really isn't that unreasonable. Public libraries would make it possible for a homeless man to access the internet and keep up with Facebook if he really wanted to.