Pats’ Edelman an MVP to Mich. authorities
NFLer praised for response to social media threat
Grateful officials in Michigan are championing the latest game-changing move by Julian Edelman, as the teen who used No. 11’s Instagram account to threaten a school shooting undergoes psychiatric evaluation.
“It was certainly heroic,” Jamie Cain, superintendent of the Port Huron Area School District in Michigan, said of the New England Patriots wide receiver. “He really deserves credit for realizing the impact that these words could have had on student safety. And for him to act on it, rather than dismiss it, was tremendous.”
Capt. Joe Platzer of the Port Huron police said a search last month of the 14-year-old suspect’s home turned up two long rifles that Platzer said “belonged to his mother.” The guns were seized by police, he said.
Platzer did not know why the child — who lives in Lions territory 60 miles north of Detroit — chose Edelman’s social media to deliver the dark message, “I’m going to shoot my school up watch the news.”
That school is Central Middle School. Cain confirmed the child was actively enrolled there, but declined to share what school authorities knew about his background. “What he did was serious,” Cain said. “Very serious.”
Stephen Guilliat, chief assistant prosecutor for Michigan’s St. Clair County, said Edelman “definitely did the right thing. It’s always best to play it safe and let the authorities take a look at these, because you never know.”
Edelman, 31, who has earned two Super Bowl rings since being drafted by the Patriots in 2009, was alerted to the disturbing post by a fan on March 25. The NFL superstar and part-time model reached out to his personal assistant, who then notified Boston police. Platzer said the youth was arrested the same day on a charge of making a false report of a threat of terrorism — a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison in Michigan if he was an adult instead of a juvenile.
Platzer said the youth “was brought down to our police department, he was interviewed and he did make admissions about posting the threat. We take these threats very seriously and we investigate them very thoroughly. We’d like to thank Julian for contacting the Boston Police Department with this information. We’re thankful that the Boston Police Department contacted our agency. It was a great collaborative working effort.”
The officials said the child already made a preliminary appearance in juvenile court and remains held at the Macomb County Juvenile Justice Center awaiting scheduling of his next hearing, when Guilliat said it will be determined whether the case is to be resolved or proceed to trial. The evaluation he undergoes in the meantime will enable investigators to “know a lot more about this kid,” Guilliat said. “It’s the best situation under these circumstances. We’re definitely moving forward on this one. Michigan law does not mess around when it comes to these cases.”