Ishmael Harrison, 18, turned himself in to police Monday after police hunted for him in connection to violent tweets
An 18-year-old Virginia teenager considered ‘armed and dangerous’ after allegedly tweeting threats to shoot up his high school turned himself in to police on Monday.
Ishmael O’Brien Lionel Harrison raised alarm on February 21 when a series of tweets emerged threatening to shoot up Fairfax High School saying ‘I am coming and no one can stop me be prepare’.
Police connected the violent messages to the Fairfax High School senior’s phone.
Harrison’s home was searched on Friday where 200 rounds of ammunition was found, but Harrison himself was missing.
His mother, working with an attorney, encouraged him to turn himself in.
The two alarming tweets were sent from a random now-suspended account under the name ‘Jason’.
‘Fairfax high school is some f****** s*** and I hate that d*** school so much. I hate apl the people and all the students there you guys suspended me for skipping well F*** YOU FAIRFAX!!!!!’ the tweet said.
It continued: ‘I have been planning this for months now and now I am going to act. Better watch out.’
The tweets posted February 21 threatened to shoot up Fairfax High School where Harrison was a senior. The tweets were posted from a random Twitter account under the name Jason
The Twitter account displayed what appears to be an AR-15 rifle as its profile picture as well as other images of guns
‘I am coming and no one can stop me be prepare,’ the tweet said.
The tweet even directed the post to media news outlets as if demanding attention.
The profile picture of the random Twitter page displayed what appears to be an AR-15 weapon.
Students alerted parents and school officials when the tweets emerged.
Mother Kendra Harrison cried on TV saying the violent tweets were not sent from her son and she insisted ‘This is not my son’.
‘I asked him more than once. He said Mom I’m telling you I did not do this,’ she said while crying to Fox5.
The family say Harrison is not violent and believe someone else sent the tweets.
‘They are blowing it out of proportion. This is not my son,’ Kendra said.
‘I just want them to be fair with whatever they do,’ she added.
Police reported finding 200 rounds of ammunition but the seizure warrant sheet showed to Fox5 by Kendra documented that one bullet was found.
The tweet was posted about a week after the deadly Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that killed 17 in Parkland, Florida.
Police connected Ishmael Harrison’s phone to the Twitter account that wrote the threatening tweets.
Police said they also had a video that shows Harrison using his phone at the time the threatening tweet was allegedly sent.
Police connected the random Twitter account to Harrison’s phone and say they have video of Harrison using his phone at the time the tweets were posted, Harrison pictured above
Harrison, pictured left, played lacrosse and football and had a scholarship to attend Louisiana State University
When police searched his home they found 200 rounds of ammunition. Police added they found a video of him at target practice on his phone
Fox5 also reported that Harrison had posted a video of himself taking target practice.
Harrison was a stellar student at Fairfax High where he played lacrosse and football and was planning to attend Louisiana State University on a scholarship.
After Harrison turned himself in with family members by his side he was transferred to the Fairfax County jail and is facing a charge of threatening to commit serious bodily harm to persons on school property.
He is also facing a charge for possession of child pornography after images were found on his phone. His mother says that the images that his 17-year-old girlfriend sent him.
He is being held without bond.
After the tweet emerged and police spoke with several suspects, police said that Ishmael Harrison cooperated with detectives.
Later in the investigation, police received information that led them to further suspect Ishmael Harrison and release a search-and-arrest warrant for him.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday Fairfax police announced that Ishmael turned himself in peacefully around 3pm.
Police announced the Harrison turned himself in at 3pm during a press conference Monday
His family describes him as non violent. When his mother confronted him about the tweets to which he said ‘Mom I’m telling you I did not do this’
The tweets threatened to attack Fairfax High School (above). Students alerted parents and school officials to the alarming tweets which led to police action
‘This case involved children, students who took the steps upon themselves to report suspicious activity. Report those threats through Twitter, immediately upon seeing them to the police department. And had it not been for that tips and information we could have seen some tragedy here,’ Chief Carl Pardiny said.
‘Chief Roessler and I are proud to announce the arrest of Ishmael Harrison who was wanted by city of Fairfax police department in connection with those February 21 2018 threats against Fairfax High School.
‘Today at approximately 3pm with the help of his mother, family members and his attorney, Ishmael turned himself in peacefully and was taken into custody safely.
‘As you know these threats were widely distributed using social media networks and they created a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety within the community at large…
‘While threats of this nature are occurring all across our nation, both the city of Fairfax and Fairfax County Police Department are absolutely committed to the safety and welfare of our communities and we take all threats seriously,’ he said.
His arrest however has launched a social media backlash on Twitter with many claiming that Harrison was set up.
‘A scholarship to LSU, a clean record, has outstanding grades, does not have any problems with anybody, is in a beautiful relationship, plays Lacrosse, and Football. HE IS 10000% INNOCENT. I know Ishmael Harrison, hes my brother,’ peer Nikki tweeted.
‘Ishmael Harrison turned himself in. Hopefully this HS kid can afford a good lawyer. I’m skeptical of @FairfaxCityPD & @fairfaxpolice,’ another user tweeted.