An Arizona man, identified as 36-year-old Justin Wayne Hill, was arrested in Montana on Sunday after allegedly making online threats of terrorism. The Flagstaff Police Department had issued a warrant for Hill's arrest, following reports on Friday of threats that were associated with mass shooting incidents; these threats were posted on review platforms of multiple schools, businesses, and governmental entities.
According to ABC15, the threats appeared on Yelp review platforms, prompting an investigation by local authorities before Hill was apprehended in Bozeman, Montana—and the man, from the small Northern Arizona community of Ash Fork which is roughly 50 miles from Flagstaff, was believed to have fled after his threats spurred the police into action. Flagstaff police enlisted the public's help in locating him by releasing a photo of the car he might have been driving with an Arizona license plate.
Hill's arrest occurred just before noon, although Flagstaff police have not yet disclosed the specific criminal charges he may face. Additional details surrounding the arrest remain scarce; the police have stated that more information will be made available to the public as investigations continue.
The nature of the online terror threats, or Hill's motivations, have not been publicly detailed, but a message requesting comment was left Sunday afternoon with the FBI office in Flagstaff, indicating the potential severity of the situation as federal authorities have also been involved in the case, U.S. News reports. The events have unfolded quickly with Hill's rapid apprehension highlighting the responsiveness of law enforcement to potential threats against community institutions.
