Port Huron boy arrested after school threat reported by NFL player Julian Edelman

Tom Brady hugs wide receiver Julian Edelman after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A 14-year-old Port Huron boy was arrested after a professional football player was alerted to a comment on his Instagram post. 

Port Huron police Capt. Joseph Platzer said police officers from Boston contacted the department March 25. 

“So our duty command got contacted by Boston PD regarding a threat made over social media, and it was received by a New England Patriot football player,” he said. 

Platzer said officers followed up on the information and located the boy. 

“We located the 14-year-old, brought him in and he made admissions to making the statement,” Platzer said. 

The boy is charged with false report of a threat of terrorism, a four-year felony. Platzer said he remains in the juvenile center in Macomb County. 

He said the boy threatened to shoot up Central Middle School in the comment on the football player’s social media post. 

Platzer said the St. Clair County Sheriff Department assisted in the investigation. 

“We worked closely with the Port Huron Area School District and we take these threats seriously,” he said. 

Platzer said two rifles belonging to the boy’s grandfather were found in the home. 

New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman told the New York Times he was alerted to the comment through a direct message on Instagram. 

He told the newspaper he thought of the Feb. 14 Parkland, Florida, massacre that left 17 people dead. 

“With the emotions of what happened, and I have a kid now, I said, ‘holy Toledo, what is going on?’” Edelman said in an interview with the New York Times this week.