Teen Faces Federal Charges for Online Threats

0:00Here's more Durham news from March 20th, a 19-year-old from Raleigh faces federal charges after posting online threats of a mass shooting. The FBI issued an arrest warrant Thursday for Eric Constantine Bird accused of transmitting threats across state lines. Agents got tipped off on March 5th when Instagram's parent company flagged his posts, showing Neil Nazi views and plans to target black, Hispanic, and gay people. Bird shared at least 11 posts on two accounts, including ones where he held guns and talked about recording an attack. He praised past mass shooters and mentioned getting a camera to livestream. One post even asked followers about a specific person from a local high school he wanted to harm. His parents told investigators their son had mental health struggles, saw therapists sometimes, but skipped his meds. They knew about his issues and had called Raleigh police in January when he got upset over a purchase. He's found a firearm in his bedroom closet during a visit. Searches of his phone revealed he bought 1,000 rounds of 9mm ammo on February 11th and once

1:05got an AK-47, though he, sold it later. Bird admitted to agents he might have heard his parents if he'd had bullets during that family fight. Authorities are still working to take him into custody, highlighting how social media tips can stop threats before they turn real.