Snow College student booked for threat of terrorism toward a school

EPHRAIM, Utah — A Snow College student was arrested for threats to a school while playing a video game on Monday afternoon.

Maximus Johnson, 18, was reported after commenting on an online video game that “he was going to shoot up a school,” according to arrest documents.

The report caused several schools in Utah and Juab counties to enact lockout protocols, according to Nephi City police and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.

Police believed Johnson had access to three different vehicles and made threats toward two separate high schools in the south area of Utah County.

UCSO Sgt. Spencer Cannon said Johnson was a recent high school graduate from Salem Hills High School and school officials worried the threats were directed at the school.

According to court documents, Sanpete authorities discovered Johnson’s IP address that was used to make the comments, where authorities took him into custody without further issues.

During the post-Miranda interview, Johnson admitted he “stated that he was going to shoot up a school” and did so while upset at a video game. According to the arresting documents, he claimed he doesn’t support “that type of behavior” and is “sad he said what he did.”

Johnson told police his father owns guns but didn’t have access to any firearms at Snow College. He gave police permission to search his vehicle, apartment, and backpack, but no weapons were found.

Schools ended lockout protocols after he was arrested, according to police.

Johnson was booked into the Sanpete County Jail for threats of terrorism that caused official action.