Friday nights in Scioto County are usually about football, not fear. But on September 5, school officials and law enforcement were forced to respond to a series of frightening bomb threats aimed at local schools.
Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman confirmed that deputies worked alongside the FBI and the Minford and Wheelersburg School Districts after threats were posted on Facebook. The FBI first notified the sheriff’s office that the two districts could be targeted. Shortly after, both school systems contacted deputies to report the threats.
Investigators worked at lightning speed—tracing the online posts to a Franklin Furnace address in just five minutes. When confronted, the suspect fled into the woods but was later taken into custody with the help of family members.
Arrested was Brian Austin Sampson, 26, of Wheelersburg. He admitted to detectives that his threats against students and staff were lies. Sampson now faces charges of terroristic threats (third-degree felony) and inducing panic (second-degree felony).
He remains in the Scioto County Jail on a $30,000 bond and is scheduled for arraignment Monday, September 8, in Portsmouth Municipal Court. The case will be presented to a grand jury.
Wheelersburg Schools Speaks Out
While both districts worked closely with law enforcement, Wheelersburg Local Schools chose to issue a public statement Friday.
“The District was made aware of a disturbing and threatening social media post this afternoon about the Wheelersburg Schools that has since that time been deleted,” Superintendent Mark Knapp said.
The district emphasized that safety protocols were immediately activated and law enforcement was alerted. After working with deputies, the threat was deemed non-credible, and normal school operations continued.
“The safety of our students and staff is always at the forefront of our thoughts and actions,” Knapp said. “We take all threats seriously and will cooperate with local law enforcement to the fullest extent.”
The statement also thanked community members who quickly reported the threat and praised the sheriff’s office for its rapid response.
Ongoing Investigation
Sheriff Thoroughman said the investigation remains ongoing and encouraged anyone with additional information to contact Detective John Cart at 740-354-7327.
