Las cruces man charged after fbi traces school shooting threat to social media post — Empty Classroom - File Photo - Bigstock Photo

Albuquerque, NM – A Las Cruces man is facing federal charges after investigators linked him to an online threat to “shoot up a school” and later discovered a loaded firearm and ammunition inside his home.

According to court documents, the FBI received an emergency disclosure from TikTok on December 17 after a livestream comment threatened to carry out a school shooting and kill children. Agents traced the post to a Las Cruces residence belonging to 25-year-old Dion Lee Torres, using account records and IP address data.

When Las Cruces police officers arrived at the home, they found Torres smoking marijuana and confirmed that he had a firearm. Concerned about the potential for imminent violence, officers obtained an Extreme Risk Firearms Protection Order and seized a loaded handgun, three fully loaded magazines, and additional rounds of ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds.

Torres has been charged with possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. He remains in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and FBI Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris announced the charges, crediting cooperation between the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Dickens is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is an allegation, and Torres is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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