Ohio Man Arrested After Threatening LGBTQ+ High School Students

An Ohio man was arrested on Wednesday evening after threatening LGBTQ+ students at a public high school south of Dayton.

Around 9 a.m. that day, Brandon Moore, 42, called Kettering Fairmont High School to threaten queer students, a Kettering Police Department Public Information Officer said, according to Dayton’s Fox affiliate WRGT.

School officials said the threat was not specific to anyone but broad in scope.

The call was reported to Fairmont’s School Resource Officer, following district safety protocols, Kettering City Schools said.

Kettering Police identified the location of the call as Beavercreek and told Fairmont High School Administration to carry on with the regular school routine while they investigated.

“To assure the safety of students, staff and visitors at the high school, additional Kettering Police Department officers were dispatched to Fairmont as the KPD began an immediate investigation of from where and by whom the call had been made. Additional measures were also taken to patrol and monitor the perimeter of the building,” said a news release.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Moore is being held at the Kettering City Jail on charges of causing panic and threatening violence.

“We commend the quick action of the Kettering Police Department both in assuring the safety of our students, staff, and visitors and in identifying and apprehending the individual responsible for making the phone call this morning,” said the news release.

Two LGBTQ+ students were recently crowned prom king and queen at Kettering Fairmont High School, which reportedly sparked Moore’s threat.

A statement by the school district says police intend to remain at the school, according to Dayton’s CBS affiliate, WHIO.

“In the wake of the threatening phone call today and the increased media coverage regarding Fairmont’s 2023 Prom Court, KPD will continue to provide additional police officer coverage at the high school for the foreseeable future to assist SRO Spinks in assuring the safety of all. The safety and security of every one of our students and staff members are of paramount importance in the Kettering City Schools,” school officials said.

Michael Knote, the executive director of the local LGBTQ+ rights nonprofit Have a Gay Day said, “It’s so unfortunate, I don’t know what kind of person can send a threat to children. What kind of person is that?”