A man, who allegedly made threats via Facebook Messenger to “shoot and kill a bunch of people downtown…” made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. The threats were made by Hill and investigated by law enforcement in August 2018.
In March 2019, a federal grand jury indicted Jared Lorenzo Hill, 35, of Tulsa, for Interstate Communication of a Threat. The indictment was unsealed today.
“Using social media to threaten a mass shooting is not exercising free speech, it’s committing a federal crime. I am thankful that citizens who saw the defendant’s alleged threats immediately brought them to the attention of law enforcement authorities who acted swiftly and decisively,” said U.S. Attorney Shores. “I encourage all citizens to take seriously and report threats of violence, including those posted on social media. If you see something, say something. You might very well be saving lives.”
If convicted, Hill faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI and Tulsa Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert T. Raley is prosecuting the case. AUSA Raley is the National Security Anti-Terrorism (ATAC) Prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Oklahoma.
The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
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