Russell D. Miley-Cruz, Threats to Commit a School Shooting, Ohio 2018

Panic and Fear Grip Parma High School as Man Makes Threats to Shoot Students

A Pennsylvania man has been indicted in federal court after making chilling threats to shoot students at Parma High School in Ohio.

Russell D. Miley-Cruz, 21, of Scranton, was arrested on Friday and charged with one count of transmission of an interstate threat and one count of obstruction of justice.

According to the indictment, Miley-Cruz communicated a threat on April 11, 2018 via Snapchat, stating: "Don’t go to Parma High School tomorrow friend, we are about to shoot that (expletive) up alright man? Don’t tell cops and you will be fine," the indictment revealed.

Miley-Cruz, between April 11 and May 1, 2018, provided a false phone number to law enforcement, denied using a specific email address and Snapchat user name, and made other false statements for the purposes of hindering and delaying the law enforcement investigation into the threats made against Parma High School, according to the indictment.

"This defendant made threats that caused panic and led to hundreds of students missing classes at Parma High School," said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. "This case is another reminder that making threats, online or in person, is always a bad idea."

Parma Police Chief Joseph Bobak added: "This individual caused fear and panic in our community by targeting and threatening school children. These threats affected students and staff at Parma High School for several days as frightened parents pulled their kids out of school."

If convicted, Miley-Cruz’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Parma Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Patton.

**Mandatory Facts:** Defendant: Russell D. Miley-Cruz, Criminal Charges: Transmission of an interstate threat and Obstruction of justice, City and State: Scranton, Pennsylvania, Date: April 11, 2018, and Sentence: awaiting trial.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/pennsylvania-man-indicted-making-threats-shoot-students-parma-high-school