Police investigating after schools threatened by fake social media account

VIENNA, Ill. (KBSI) — Carbondale police are investigating after a threat was made via social media to a least three school Facebook accounts.

Vienna School District leaders were made aware of the threatening social media post around 9 a.m. Sunday. The school district notified school resource officers, the Vienna Police Department and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department. That led to the involvement of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Carbondale Police Department and school resource officers from Jackson County. These agencies also involved the Marion FBI field office, DCFS and the respective state’s attorneys from each county.

After tracking down the individual who was being represented by what proved to be a fake account the law enforcement departments determined that no credible threat exists regarding the incident.

The law enforcement agencies interviewed the person and did voluntary searches of the person’s property. They also secured data from the social media platform to corroborate the story, according to Vienna Superintendent Joshua W. Stafford.

Early Sunday morning, Vienna School District leaders were made aware of a threatening social media post. The school district immediately notified school resource officers, Vienna Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, Carbondale Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Marion FBI field office.

After tracking down the person being represented on what proved to be a fake account, law enforcement said there was no credible threat regarding this incident.

Investigators say they also discovered this profile had made threats to at least two other schools, one being within the city limits of Carbondale and in Jackson County.

Law enforcement agencies not only interviewed the person but were able to do voluntary searches of the individual’s property and secure data from the social media platform to corroborate the story.

Since getting the information about the Facebook post, law enforcement worked to determine who has been involved.

“Since getting the information about the Facebook post, Officers David Stewart, Eileen Rochford, Carl Manley, Jon Gulley, Bobbi Baker, Chief Jim Miller, Deputies Scott Sparks, Aubrey Edwards, Sheriff Pete Sopczak, along with Vienna principal John Giffin, Vienna superintendent Joshua Stafford, and Johnson County States Attorney Tambra Cain have been diligently working with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Carbondale Police Department, DCFS, the Illinois State Police’s Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC), and the Marion FBI field office,” according to a statement sent by Stafford. “Jackson County and Carbondale have been involved since it was also discovered that the fake social media account had also posted threats to the Carbondale High School social media page and the Carbondale New School page. Both of those schools’ officials were involved as well.”

It was determined that the fake account representing the person local to the region actually originated from a foreign country. This evidence will be referred to the United States Attorney for further consideration.

“We are fortunate to have great people that care and will work all day on a Sunday to ensure the safety of our communities. This is a great example of ‘see something, say something’ and the diligence of our law enforcement community to actively follow through. It is an even better example of a multi agency cooperation and response,” said Stafford.

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