Feds Probe Fake Web Posts re Conn. School Massacre, May Pursue Criminal Charges
Amidst the shock and horror over the Friday shooting massacre of more than two dozen children and adults at an elementary school in Connecticut, some individuals inserted themselves into the high-profile case by creating fake Internet posts and pages, authorities say.
At a Sunday press conference, Connecticut State Police spokesman Lt. J. Paul Vance said state and federal authorities are looking into the misleading posts and pages, some of which he described as “threatening,” the New York Daily News reported.
Vance said material at issue includes information purportedly being provided by individuals posing as the killer, Adam Lanza, and creating fake Newtown police and state police Web postings (neither department is in fact providing any information about the case online). Likewise, the Washington Post reports that Lanza had no apparent social media presence, not even a Facebook page.
“It’s important to note that we have discussed this with federal authorities,” Vance said. “These things are crimes. They will be investigated and prosecuted.”
