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National Guard soldier wrote threatening letter, warrant says

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A U.S. National Guard soldier is facing charges after police say he admitted he is the one who wrote a threatening letter found on his car.

Brett Downing, an Information Technology Specialist with the National Guard, faces a charge of filing a false police report.

An arrest warrant obtained by Channel 2 Action News says detectives re-interviewed Downing days after the report and said "during the interview he admitted to manufacturing the letter/note and falsely reporting the crime."

It is not clear what evidence police had linking the threatening note to Downing himself or why he typed up the bizarre threat that hit the internet and spread worldwide through social media.

"I will say it did raise my anxiety level," veteran Jack Carvers said.

The threatening note left veterans at the Marietta VFW Post taking precautions. Many took their veterans stickers off their cars.

"There’s enough anxiety now without having stuff like this happen, so the gang here I'm sure is pretty upset about it,” Carver said.

Veterans now have different worries.

"The appropriate level of justice be served and if he needs help, he seeks help," Carver said.

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