PORT HURON (WJRT) – (04/04/18) – A school shooting plot in Michigan foiled all thanks to an NFL player who spoke up after someone left an alarming comment on his Instagram account.
Acting on the tip, authorities in Port Huron arrested a 14 year old boy and ended up charging him with making a false report of a threat of terrorism.
The social media account at the center of it all belongs to New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman.
The photo posted March 25 is unrelated showing Edelman with a teammate amid news of a trade.
Among the 400 comments initially left, one of them contained the threat.
It has since been deleted, but another comment found by ABC12 still reads, “Can’t help but notice a kid saying he’s going to shoot up a school – can everybody alert the authority please? This is not something to joke about!”
One of Edelman’s fans sent him a message about it and the NFL player did take action.
He notified his assistant who found the comment and made a call to Boston police.
They took it one step further getting in touch with the Port Huron Police Department in eastern Michigan.
Authorities tracked down the boy accused of making the comment and according to he reportedly admitted to making the statement singling out Central Middle School as the target.
Police worked closely with the district keeping them informed throughout their investigation.
According to the Port Huron Times Herald, police Captain Joseph Platzer says two rifles belonging to the boy’s grandfather were found in the home.
The teenager remains in the juvenile center in Macomb County.
In a statement from Julian Edelman’s representatives he thanks the person on his social media account for alerting him to the threat saying “This individual’s thoughtfulness and awareness may have helped avert another tragedy.
Edelman says the man who tipped him off is “the real hero”.