A Kentucky man was quickly cleared of any involvement in the Nashville Christmas bombing by federal agents. According to newly released court documents, however, he was charged after using social media to threaten the life of the investigator who interviewed him.
Just hours after the Nashville bombing on Christmas morning, a criminal complaint states that the FBI got a tip regarding "concerning statements" that James Keith Ray may toward AT&T.
Ray was allegedly ranting in mid-December that "AT&T was abusing their power and how [AT&T's] policies were criminal."
FBI Agent James M. Brown located Ray and interviewed him in his Henderson home that he shared with his parents, reported WKRN.
The criminal complaint claims that Ray posted "threatening statements directed toward Special Agent Brown" in a series of tweets.
One tweet read in part, "Agent Brown if you ever step on this property while I'm here you are a dead man do you hear me there is no amount of armor that will protect you."
A U.S. Magistrate judge in the Western District of Kentucky determined that there was probable cause to charge Ray with interstate transmission of a threat to injure the person of another. Ray will remain in custody pending future court proceedings in the case.
During a previous FBI interview, Ray's parents, who he lives with, stated that they were "afraid of Ray" and "locked their bedroom door at night."
Photo: Kentucky Department of Corrections