Man arrested for threatening mass violence at Burke County schools
BURKE COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A local man has been arrested and charged with communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property, prompting increased safety measures at schools across Burke County.
Brandon Dean Johnson, 40, was taken into custody on March 25 and was issued a $200,000 secured bond. Jail records indicate that Johnson has a history of previous charges, including assault on a female and possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance.
The arrest follows an investigation involving Drexel Police and the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), which raised concerns about potential threats to local school campuses.
While the specific details of the investigation are still unfolding, authorities assured the public that there is no immediate danger to the schools at this time.
Burke County Public Schools said it has increased patrols around campuses and is following established safety protocols. The district emphasized its commitment to keeping students and staff safe and has been in close contact with law enforcement throughout the investigation.
'We want to assure our families, staff, and community that we are in close communication with law enforcement, fully cooperating with their efforts, and following their guidance,' the school district stated in a release to Queen City News.
Law enforcement officials are encouraging anyone with information to come forward.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Heart medicine stolen from porch of transplant patient in Glasgow Village
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Tiara Johnson, a heart transplant recipient, is speaking out after her heart medicine was stolen from her porch Friday afternoon. 'I was inside with the door open when it happened,' she said. Her doorbell captured images of the theft. She reported the crime to St. Louis County Police investigators. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'It's not an Amazon package,' said Johnson. 'That was my medication I depend on to live.' She fears there will be few consequences because the suspects are juveniles. 'I need them to know the significance and harm they caused,' she said. Johnson reported the crime to her pharmacy. She said the pharmacy is investigating before determining whether the medication will be replaced. St. Louis County Police confirm one juvenile suspect was identified. In cases involving minors, police are limited in how much information they can share publicly. Johnson said even before the crime, she was facing medical debt from the transplant. She started a GoFundMe to help with expenses. 'I fought very hard, almost eight years, to get this heart, and I try my best to be a good steward over my heart in memory of my heart donor,' she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
3 sentenced for pandemic-related unemployment fraud, ID theft
ST. LOUIS – The last in a trio of people who committed COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment fraud and stole dozens of identities along the way appeared in federal court on Friday to be sentenced. Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Daryl Jones Jr., 46, pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud. Between June 22, 2020, and July 15, 2020, Jones fraudulently obtained $84,592 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on debit cards issued to him and four other people. Cheryl Johnson, Jones' girlfriend, provided some of the personal identifying information to Jones. She obtained this information by supervising the victims at various St. Louis area businesses. Those businesses were not identified in a federal statement obtained by FOX 2 News. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now On June 3, 2021, Jones submitted fake pay stubs from a phony business to obtain a $31,700 car loan. Jones and Johnson submitted counterfeit insurance cards to accept delivery of the car. The pair used James Whitiker's St. Louis County home to commit their crimes, prosecutors said. Later that month, authorities obtained a court-approved search warrant for the home. They found a notebook containing the names, Social Security numbers, and birthdates of nearly three dozen people, plus separates pieces of paper containing personal info of 18 more people. Investigators also recovered three stolen ID documents, nine Pennsylvania unemployment benefit debit cards, as well as stolen debit and credit cards. Jones was sentenced to 65 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $116,587. Johnson, 44, pleaded guilty on Feb. 20 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud. She was sentenced on May 22 to 55 months in federal prison and ordered to repair $116,587. Whitiker admitted knowing that Jones and Johnson were using his home to commit fraud and to using two debit cards during the conspiracy. He pleaded guilty in July 2024 to a conspiracy charge and was sentenced this past October to three years in federal prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Community mourns Vineyard man who died during youth camping trip
A candlelight vigil was held Saturday evening in Utah County for the youth leader who died during a church camping trip earlier in the week. Family, friends, and strangers gathered at the Springville High School baseball field to remember Alex Johnson, 38, who was found dead Thursday morning inside his trailer at Wasatch Mountain State Park. Josh Probst, with the Wasatch County Sheriff's Office, said inside the enclosed trailer, deputies found charcoal in a Dutch oven. Investigators theorized that Johnson had used it as a heat source, which caused carbon monoxide to fill the trailer, killing him. The state medical examiner will determine the official cause of death. Those in the large crowd that gathered at the vigil Saturday were able to view photos of Johnson and learn about the things that were important to him. As they held lit candles and comforted one another, friends and family shared memories of the Springville native. The tragedy of Johnson's death has left a deep void in the community, according to family friend Mardi Sifuentes. She organized a similar memorial on Friday in Vineyard, where the Johnson family currently lives. 'Anything anyone ever needed, he was there,' Sifuentes said. 'He just kind of put his footprint in every family. Everyone around here, we just all loved him. It's a huge loss.' As the community grieves, they also remember a man who gave so much of himself to others. According to Sifuentes, Johnson was active in his community through church service. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a beloved Little League coach, gymnastics dad and owner of a local landscaping business. He was one of our dearest friends," Sifuentes added. 'It's been a lot of tears, where you think that you don't have any more, but then they just still keep coming. I think there is always the question of: Why does it happen to good people?' Ashley Gollaher, another family friend, echoed the heartbreak felt by many. 'A lot of tears for his wife and kids,' she said. Johnson leaves behind his widow and four children. Contributing: Jordan Ormond