Security guard at Ohio Jewish school arrested for threats against students, parents
Thomas Develin, who worked at Columbus Torah Academy, posted images on social media threatening to turn a playground at the school ‘into a self defense situation’
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JTA — A security guard at a Jewish day school in Columbus, Ohio, was arrested last week and charged with making terrorist threats against the students and parents at the school.
Thomas Develin, 24, worked as a security guard at Columbus Torah Academy, a Modern Orthodox Jewish day school for students from kindergarten through high school, until his arrest Wednesday.
The arrest came after local law enforcement was alerted to photos shared to social media platforms showing Develin threatening the school community.
“I’m at a Jewish school and about to make it everyone’s problem,” read the caption of one picture of Develin holding a gun posted to his social media account on March 11. Another photo posted that day was captioned: “The playground is about to turn into a self defense situation,” according to the Columbus Dispatch.
JewishColumbus, a community organization that replaced the Columbus Jewish Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Columbus, released a statement crediting law enforcement for responding swiftly to Develin’s posts.
“Securing our community is the top priority at JewishColumbus and we remain in close contact with our law enforcement partners as the investigation continues,” the organization said. “We want to express our gratitude to the quick-thinking law enforcement officials at the local, state and national agencies. Their training, planning and professionalism stopped the threat. We believe strongly that those implicated in this threat will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Develin, who previously served in the National Guard, is being held on $1 million bond.
The Times of Israel Community.