Fairfax man who threatened high school arrested, police say

FAIRFAX, Va. - An 18-year-old student accused of threatening violence against a Virginia high school has been taken into custody on Monday, according to officials.

Police said Ishmael Harrison turned himself in to authorities with the help of his mother and a lawyer at around 3:30 p.m. Monday. He is currently being held without bond, and a bond hearing has been rescheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. A Commonwealth attorney was not present during his arraignment Tuesday morning.

Harrison is alleged of creating a Twitter account under another name and using it to send several tweets alluding to a shooting at Fairfax High School. The tweets were laced with profanity and stated harm was coming to students. The Twitter account's profile picture featured an AR-15-like weapon, according to police.

Officials increased security at Fairfax High School and other area schools following the threat.

Police said they spoke with several suspects at the time the threat was made on Feb. 21 and at the time, Harrison cooperated with detectives.

Investigators said they received information that led officers to suspect Harrison further and had probable cause to conduct a search. On Friday, Fairfax City police searched Harrison's home and found 200 rounds of ammunition inside.

Police said they would have likely arrested the 18-year-old then, but he was not home. Over the weekend, they named him to the public and put out a wanted poster calling him armed and dangerous.

Harrison has been charged with threats to commit serious bodily harm to persons on school property and possession of child pornography. The latter charge stems from naked images found on Harrison's phone of an underage person. However, his mother Kendra Harrison said the photos are of his 17-year-old girlfriend.

Harrison, who spoke to FOX 5 on Sunday, said her son did not make the threats. Police said she was also arrested on an outstanding larceny warrant in an unrelated case. She has been released on bond for that charge.

According to the Ishmael Harrison's family, he is a senior at Fairfax High School and plays on the lacrosse and football teams. He planned to attend Louisiana State University on a scholarship.

Anyone with information that could aid detectives in their investigation was urged to call 703-385-7924.