Sarpy County Sheriff's Office says reported Instagram comment may have stopped mass shooting
An 18-year-old is behind bars on a $10 million bond, and it all started with an Instagram post.It was a comment left on a post made by Scary Acres, and the sheriff’s office says if it hadn’t been reported, they wouldn’t have found the person they say posed a real threat.The comment read, “Finna shoot you guys up.”According to a Sarpy County affidavit, the words were left on a Scary Acres Instagram post by an account called “marshall506861.” Out of concern, Scary Acres security reported the comment to the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.Sheriff’s Investigator Matt Barrall said, “It referenced the potential for either a directed shooting or a mass shooting.”Law enforcement reviewed the account, which had no posts. A search warrant revealed the IP address where the account was being used.Barrall said, “It was a local adult that we had had prior contact with in terms of threats.”Deputies say the account was run by 18-year-old Marshall Fry, who is already on juvenile probation.Investigators found Fry’s online activity included liking videos of animals being tortured and videos of shootings.Barrall said, “When we saw his search history, that’s truly what was the most alarming.”According to investigators, Fry’s search history showed he had been researching guns, ammunition, and mass shootings.Barrall said, “He was researching the best ballistic helmet to purchase that was available to civilians. It actually gives an indication that someone is planning something and they’re trying to figure out how to defeat law enforcement coming to respond to what they’re planning.”The sheriff’s office says Fry actually bought the ballistic helmet and had been searching for the area around Scary Acres.Now, Fry has been arrested for making terroristic threats and is being held on a $10 million bond. Deputies say the arrest happened just a few hundred feet from an elementary school.Barrall said, “We were able to act soon enough and get information back that we were able to stop a potential, you know, mass deadly shooting. If you see something, say something still is extremely applicable.”Fry’s attorney was not available to speak Monday. His father declined to give a public comment. Fry’s next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 17.In a statement Scary Acres says: "We are appreciative of law enforcement's swift and professional response to this matter. Scary Acres has a long history of providing a safe environment for its patrons and staff, and we look forward to continuing to do so in the years to come."
