Shelby Township Teen In Custody After Social Media Threat

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, MI -- Police arrested 18-year-old Timothy Evans, a senior at Utica High School, for making what they call “a credible threat on social media” against his school. Police also executed a search warrant at the team’s home, finding “various firearms and replicas, along with ammunition,” according to a statement released via Facebook by the Shelby Township Police Department.

Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith says “just kidding” is not a valid defense to these kinds of charges.

"Any threats made against our schools will be taken seriously and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Smith said in a statement. “Calling a threat a prank or a joke is not a valid defense. I urge parents and educators to continue to have these hard conversations with our youth, explaining the long-term ramifications of making a threat in this day and age."

Evans was arraigned in the 41A District Court Tuesday before Judge Douglas P. Shepherd. Evans is charged with making terrorist threat or false report of terrorism and is being held on $75,000 bond (no 10%). Evans case is one of several making news across Metro Detroit, where there's been a rash of social media and other kinds of threats against schools in the wake of the Feb. 14 shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Booking photo courtesy of Shelby Township Police.