TEXAS — A Texas juvenile was arrested after the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI conducted a search of a home in Smith County on Saturday, June 29.
According to investigators, the minor actively attempted to remain hidden from police by using “sophisticated techniques” before authorities discovered his identity through “sustained online investigative efforts.”
In a press release, the Collin County Sheriff’s Office said the operation “successfully identified a juvenile suspect responsible for numerous bomb threats and hoaxes in multiple states.”
The multi-agency investigation began in May 2024 when the suspect called and initiated a swatting incident at a residence in St. Paul, Texas. The investigation linked the suspect to bomb threats at multiple grocery stores in Brookshire, including in North Texas, and schools in the Tyler area, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Mission ISD.
According to investigators, the minor’s activities spanned not only Texas, but also Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Tennessee and Wisconsin. More than 100 locations have been identified as being targeted by the “dangerous hoaxes.”
Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner commented on the importance of the investigation, saying, “This successful operation underscores the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing serious threats to public safety. Combating hoaxes and bomb threats are serious matters that potentially endanger innocent citizens. We remain committed to identifying and prosecuting those responsible for these dangerous activities.”
According to the Collin County Sheriff’s Office, swatting and bomb threats pose a significant threat and have increased in recent years.
