Local teen jailed after terrorist threat

A Dexter teen who formerly attended Dexter Schools remains in jail today under a $7,500 cash only bond, charged with making a terrorist threat.

A Stoddard County arrest warrant issued on Friday, March 23, states Lucas Allen, 17, of Dexter, "knowingly communicated on his Facebook page, a threat to 'snap and shoot up his school or just start murdering people,' a condition involving a danger to life, by posting the message on his Facebook page, and (Allen) did so for the purpose of frightening 10 or more people."

Allen no longer attends Dexter Schools, but the message was seen by members of the student body, who brought it to the attention of school officials at the start of the school day Thursday, March 22. At that point, local law enforcement were contacted, and following an investigation, Allen was picked up and charges were filed.

In an interview with Dexter Police Det. Lt. Trevor Pulley on Friday, March 23, Allen reportedly admitted to posting the following comment on his Facebook page:

"Everyone calls those people who shoot up their school or just start murderin (sic) people monsters. Theyre (sic) not monster (sic), theyve (sic) just had all they can take. A person can only take so much (expletive) durin (sic) a short period of time before somethin (sic) in their brain unplugs and they snap. So remember...when i (sic) snap here shortly, im (sic) not a monster. You people brought it on yourselves."

Allen told police the posting was a "random thought," and that he did not have any intentions of acting on the thought. He also reportedly told Pulley during the interview process that the post shouldn't be "alarming" because he "didn't come out and say he was going to shoot up the school."

Allen also reportedly told police he "could see how it (the Facebook post) could be misconstrued" and that the alleged threat "was not directed toward anyone or anything."

Allen reportedly explained to police his belief that those people who do "snap" do so for a reason, and in his opinion, they should not be referred to as "monsters."

Asked if he thought the nature of his post would result in getting him into trouble, Allen told Pulley he "didn't think people would misunderstand."

A visit to the home of Lucas Allen revealed a loaded shotgun at the residence. That weapon, according to Pulley, remains at the residence.

The range of punishment for making a terroristic threat, which is a Class C felony, is imprisonment for a term of years not less than two and not to exceed seven; or by imprisonment for a special term not to exceed one year in the county jail or other authorized penal institution; or by a fine not to exceed $5,000; or by both imprisonment and a fine.