A North Carolina man has been taken into custody after he allegedly threatened violence against children at a preschool, specifically targeting Black children. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina reported that Zachary Charles Newell was arrested on a federal charge after his threatening comments on social media came to light.
Working with the FBI, the Carteret County Sheriff's Office arrested Newell on Monday, September 1, following concerns raised by comments he posted online. According to a statement from U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle, "The defendant’s alleged threats deeply disturb us as federal law enforcement agents and have no place in our society, certainly not in Eastern North Carolina. We will meet this evil with the full force of the federal law enforcement apparatus." Boyle's statement emphasizes the commitment of law enforcement to counteract threats of violence against communities, particularly innocent children.
Details indicate that Google alerted the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center to the threatening remarks on YouTube, traced back to Newell's account named "CommentatorsHateMe." These posts included a particularly disturbing message, where Newell wrote, "I’m gonna shoot up a black pre school. 20 black babies will be shot," as outlined in U.S. Attorney's Office documents.
FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, James C. Barnacle Jr., indicated the seriousness with which federal agencies are responding to online threats of violence. "Every child in North Carolina deserves go to school without fear," he commented, assuring that law enforcement would rigorously investigate such threats against schools. FBI Charlotte has been commended for rapidly initiating an arrest, working closely with local and federal agencies to address the situation as quickly as possible.
If convicted on these federal charges, Newell could face up to five years in federal prison. The investigation is being led by the FBI, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel is prosecuting the case. For further details on the incident and the subsequent legal proceedings, visit the U.S. Attorney's Office announcement.
