Crime
Weirton 13-Year-Old Arrested on Terrorist Threats Charge
The juvenile will be charged with the felony offense of “Threatening a Terroristic Act” and will face prosecution accordingly.
Weirton, WV – A 13-year-old female student from the 7th grade has been arrested on one count of felony Terrorist Threats, according to the Weirton Police Department.
The charge stems from a social media post where individual students were threatened. The juvenile is currently being held at a juvenile detention facility and is scheduled to be arraigned in Hancock County Magistrate Court on Friday.
Hancock County Prosecuting Attorney Steven E. Dragisich released a statement regarding the incident, stating that on or about September 11, 2024, the following message was posted on Snapchat: “I am coming for you guys. This is more people on my list.” The post then listed seven juveniles who attend Weir Middle School. Additionally, references to “shooting up” Weir Middle School were made in the conversation section of the same Snapchat account and were shared with multiple students.
Following a thorough investigation by the Weirton Police Department, the juvenile responsible for the threats was detained. The juvenile will be charged with the felony offense of “Threatening a Terroristic Act” and will face prosecution accordingly.
Prosecutor Dragisich expressed gratitude to the Weirton Police Department, the Hancock County Board of Education, and the Hancock County Prosecutors Office for their dedication and efforts in identifying and apprehending the juvenile.
The Weirton Police Department worked closely with the Hancock County Prosecutors Office and the Hancock County Board of Education during the investigation.
Crime
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.