Lafayette teen arrested in racially inflammatory post threatening to shoot certain Lee County attendees
An arrest has been made by authorities after the Opelika Police Department began investigating a racially inflammatory post on social media threatening to shoot attendees of a certain demographic at the Lee County Fair.
“The department takes threats like these very seriously and immediately began an investigation,” police said. Officials were able to trace the social media account to a residence in Lafayette, AL.
Through the investigation, 18-year-old Pharrell Smith was developed as a suspect. The Lafayette Police Department arrested Smith on unrelated charges on October 6, 2022. Once he is released from their custody, Smith will be extradited to the Lee County Justice Center where he will be arrested on a Terroristic Threat charge.
This case is still under investigation. “The department would like to thank the Lafayette Police Department and FBI for their assistance in this case,” police added.
If you have any information on this incident, please contact the Opelika Police Department Detective Division at (334) 705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at (334) 745-8665. Tips can be submitted through our Opelika Police Mobile App. You may wish to remain anonymous.
Related stories
CrimeOPD: Police investigating shooting in Opelika; road closed
Crime & SafetyOpelika man arrested in Auburn business burglary investigation
Crime & SafetySeveral arrested in Troup County vehicle theft parts theft investigation
SafetyOpelika Fire Department equips all 90 firefighters with new communication-enhanced masks
SafetyHunter rescued from tree after tree stand malfunction in Tuskegee National Forest