Suspect identified in series of bomb threats

Bridgeport police officers block the front entrance to Brookshire's June 23 restaurant following a bomb threat. BRIAN KNOX/WCMESSENGER

A person has been identified as a suspect in dozens of swatting hoaxes and bomb threats, including the one at Brookshire's grocery store in Bridgeport on June 23.

A multi-agency operation has identified a juvenile suspect from Smith County in East Texas. The Collin County Sheriff's Office, Tyler Police Department, Smith County Sheriff's Office and the FBI executed a search warrant in Smith County on Saturday, where evidence was collected in the case.

Investigators believe the first incident occurred in May, when the suspect allegedly initiated a crushing incident at a residence in St. Paul, a small town in Collin County, according to a news release from the Collin County Sheriff's Office.

“Through the diligent efforts of the agencies involved and the execution of numerous search warrants, the juvenile suspect has been identified and charges will be filed,” the CCSO news release said. “The suspect has been linked to bomb threats at Brookshire grocery stores, Tyler area schools, Cypress-Fairbanks and Mission school districts.”

Bridgeport Police Chief Steve Stanford confirmed to the FBI on Wednesday that the East Texas Law Enforcement Task Force working on the case has information about the Bridgeport threat, and that information is expected to be included in the prosecution of the suspect once charges are filed.

According to the CCSO, the investigation revealed that the suspect made threats at more than 100 locations in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, West Virginia, North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The suspect used “sophisticated techniques to remain hidden,” according to the news release, but was ultimately identified through investigative efforts.

“This successful operation underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in responding to serious threats to public safety,” Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner said in the news release. “Prank calls and bomb threats are serious issues that potentially put innocent civilians at risk. We remain committed to identifying and prosecuting those responsible for these dangerous activities.”

Brookshire's Bridgeport store was evacuated shortly after noon Sunday, June 23, after a threat was received by Brookshire's headquarters in Tyler. The store was closed for several hours until Denton County bomb squads were able to evacuate the store.

The threat is just one of several similar bomb threats that have hit Brookshire stores in recent weeks. Stores in Tyler, Brownwood, Bowie, Corsicana, Bossier City, Louisiana, and Arkadelphia, Arkansas, have been threatened, according to media reports.