CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — According to a police report from the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a residence on Black Run Road on the evening of November 11, 2024, after receiving a call from a mother and her seventh-grade son who alleged that he had been receiving threatening messages from an unknown individual online. The incident, described as telecommunications harassment in the report, allegedly stemmed from an online gaming dispute.
The report states that deputies arrived at approximately 10:31 p.m., responding to claims from the young complainant that he had been playing the mobile game “Brawl Stars” with other players when an unidentified male participant allegedly began messaging him via Facebook Messenger. According to the boy, the messages escalated to threats and a demand for $150, although the complainant was unsure why the demand for money arose.
The police report indicates that the complainant could not produce all messages at the time, explaining that the individual had deleted the messages and blocked him on the app. However, he did provide deputies with two screenshots he had saved, which reportedly did not contain direct threats but implied that the sender knew personal information about the boy, including his school. The suspect allegedly mentioned the boy’s school and hinted at “finding” him, a statement that reportedly caused concern.
Additionally, the report notes that the boy claimed the harassment began after a match in which the suspect appeared upset about losing. The unknown individual allegedly referenced another local student, threatening to “swat” or make a false emergency call in that student’s name. According to the boy, the messages included a warning to his family about an alleged $150 scam, with claims that the boy could make the threats “go away” by paying the amount requested.
The report further describes that, upon further review of the screenshots, deputies observed background details suggesting the messages may have come through WhatsApp in addition to Facebook Messenger. The boy’s mother confirmed on a follow-up call that she found no additional messages related to the incident after searching her son’s phone.
The case is currently being investigated as telecommunications harassment. Ross County deputies are examining the provided screenshots and monitoring for any additional contact from the individual allegedly responsible for the threats.
The Ross County Sheriff’s Office advises parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities and to report any instances of harassment or threats.