Matthew Gabriel, a Philadelphia man, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming that a man he disagreed with in a fantasy football league chat was planning a mass shooting in Norway. This resulted in Norwegian and U.S. authorities spending hundreds of hours investigating the hoax. Each year, authorities in the U.S. receive thousands of false claims about potential mass shootings, bombings, or other violent attacks. Gabriel’s false claim was made out of spite due to an online disagreement with a member of his fantasy football group. He faces up to five years in prison and will be sentenced in January. In a separate incident, Gabriel sent an email posing as someone else to the University of Iowa, causing further disruption. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero warned against making false violent threats online, as they can lead to criminal charges and extreme disruptions for authorities.
False violent threats have been a widespread issue across the country, with numerous instances reported in Ohio, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The spread of false claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, led to a wave of bomb and shooting threats. Law enforcement officials have had to take action against individuals making these hoaxes to ensure the safety and security of communities. Authorities emphasize the importance of thinking before posting online and considering the potential consequences of such actions. Everytown for Gun Safety has highlighted the significance of assessing the legitimacy of school shooting threats based on the individual’s access to firearms. The prevalence of false violent threats continues to pose a challenge for authorities nationwide.
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