A 43-year-old Kinston man is behind bars after police say a series of TikTok videos included threats against courthouse staff, judges, prosecutors and local officers, along with talk of a hydrogen-based explosive device. Officers say they tracked the man to the Heritage Street area on Friday and arrested him without incident, then moved quickly to secure his home and start collecting evidence.
What police say
According to the Kinston Police Department, officers located 43-year-old Justin Church in the Heritage Street area and took him into custody without incident. Arrest warrants charge Church with terrorism, manufacturing or possessing a weapon of mass destruction, and threatening executive, legislative, court and local government officials. Police say the videos at the center of the case were publicly posted to TikTok.
Local background
Church is not a stranger to local law enforcement. As reported by WITN, he was arrested in March after allegedly threatening Lenoir County dispatchers over the phone and spitting on officers. That earlier incident led to charges including communicating threats, according to prior reporting.
Search warrant and federal consult
Investigators say they executed a search warrant at Church's residence and seized multiple items of evidence. During the investigation, officers consulted with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and police say Church was then transported to the Lenoir County Detention Center, where he is being held without bond. Threats of mass violence are not being treated lightly. Threatening to commit acts of mass violence is not protected speech,
Chief Keith Goyette wrote in the department's post, according to the Kinston Police Department.
Legal notes
The felony charges listed by police carry significant penalties under state law, and the involvement of federal partners could expand the scope of the case. Kinston police say the investigation is still active and that they do not plan to release more information unless they determine additional details are appropriate for public release.
