On Monday, November 7, 2022, University of Dayton Police alerted the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Dayton, Ohio, about a potential shooting threat posted on the social media application Yik Yak.

The FBI Cincinnati Field Office immediately utilized legal and investigative resources to identify the account holder who allegedly posted these statements. The information was provided to the University of Dayton (UD) Department of Public Safety for further action. The UD Police then arrested a male student who has been charged with Making a Terroristic Threat (ORC 2909.23) and Inducing Panic (ORC 2917.31) under the Ohio Revised Code.

“This incident demonstrates the important partnership between the FBI and local police who work together each day to help protect our community,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers. “While the FBI provided assistance in this investigation, the University of Dayton Department of Public Safety led this effort and utilized all available resources to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff at UD.”

The FBI has seen an increase in hoax threats to schools, universities, and other public buildings in Central and Southern Ohio. These threats can have significant impacts on the community and are treated seriously by law enforcement and first responders.

Issuing a threat through social media, via text message, through email, or over the phone can be a federal crime (threatening interstate communications). The FBI and local law enforcement work with federal and state prosecutors to determine how each case should be prosecuted. More resources can be found at fbi.gov/thinkbeforeyoupost.