Investigation: Threatening texts referenced bombs, terrorists, ISIS

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Duluth man is facing felony charges and is the subject of an FBI probe after police say he sent threatening texts that referenced bombs, terrorists and ISIS.

Milton police told Channel 2’s Mike Petchenik they got a call from 29-year-old Warren Crayton’s family after his mother received the texts, which according to an arrest report, contained these phrases:

• "I would expect the cops to do something after I ambush Atlanta tonight."
• "I might go down for it ... possibly terrorism if I use a bomb."
• "I might have to shoot a cop in the face."
• "Imma try to make ISIS look like a kid's club.  (Expletive) America."

Police charged Crayton with felony terroristic threats after verifying he had sent the texts.

“Obviously, the nature of the texts were very concerning, considering the climate we live in today,” said Lt. Charles Barstow, with the Milton Police Department.  “Anytime someone throws out Muslim extremists or ISIS or ISIL and bombs and things of that nature, it has to be taken very seriously.”

Barstow said investigators contacted the FBI out of an abundance of caution.

“We’re shipping it to the FBI as soon as we can, saying, ‘Here it is. It’s on your radar. Whether it’s real or not, that’s your job. We’ve done our job. He’s locked up. You guys are going to have to take it from here,’” he said.

A spokesman for the Atlanta FBI office could not comment on the investigation, but the arrest report said an agent planned to interview Crayton about his intentions.

Crayton’s neighbor, Lisa Floyd, said she saw police at the apartment Monday, but didn’t know what was going on until Petchenik told her.

“It kind of makes you feel unsafe,” she said. “To hear somebody in the community making threats like that -- it’s kind of crazy.”

Cox Media Group