Student charged after making extremist threats against school on social media

Summary

A 19-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, named Eric Byrd was charged by federal officials on March 20, 2026, with communicating a threat after posting extremist content on social media. According to charging documents, Byrd expressed an obsession with mass shooters and used pro-Nazi and white supremacist messaging on Instagram, including statements like "I love death and destruction. I hope much more comes." He was detained on March 9 following an involuntary commitment request by Raleigh police and the FBI. A court document indicated that Byrd's posts constituted racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism and expressed an intent to harm others. The case highlights concerns around online threats and child safety in the context of digital extremism.