Man arrested in Cary threatened to murder ‘every child in the hotel,’ feds say

A man arrested twice in Cary between Wednesday and Thursday allegedly communicated threats about kidnapping and injuring children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s cyber tip reporting system, according to federal court documents.

On Wednesday night, Cary police said they prevented an active shooter situation from taking place after arresting Kevin Edral Douglas, 46, at a local hotel.

Just after 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Cary police stated that Douglas had been arrested again. He’s now being held on federal charges, that include communications that “contained a threat to kidnap and injure children.”

Federal documents, obtained by ABC11, The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner, reveal that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipster, believed to be Douglas, stated that he was going to murder “every child in the hotel.” The tipster also made several other repeated threats of ritual killings and murders of Mexican children. Some of the threats stated in the documents were in English, others were in Spanish. Some appear to be nonsensical rants in both languages.

Douglas was initially arrested Wednesday night at Extended Stay America on Weston Parkway, off North Harrison Avenue, in Cary. The hotel is close to a daycare.

According to federal documents, Douglas’ name, the hotel and a computer’s IP address appeared in data collected by the tip line “as a normal part of cyber tip management and processing protocols.”

The documents also state that Douglas “knowingly and willfully did transmit in interstate and foreign commerce from North Carolina to Virginia.”

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is based in Virginia.

Police learn of ‘credible threat’

Police said they learned Wednesday of a “credible” threat about a person “threatening to become an active shooter against children,” according to a news release. Police declined to identify the nature or any details about the threat.

After the threat was reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Cary contacted the FBI and activated the Wake Regional SWAT Team. Personnel from other public safety agencies in Raleigh, Morrisville and Holly Springs also joined the search for the suspect.

The situation was “contained” after police arrested Douglas at the hotel without incident.

He is charged with cyberstalking and communicating threats. Quickly after bonding out, Douglas was arrested for a second time in as many days.

Law enforcement explains the case

In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Cary Police Chief Terry Sult discussed how the investigation into Douglas’ case is ongoing.

“An investigation doesn’t stop when an arrest is made,” he told reporters.

As police became aware of Douglas’ alleged threats to shoot children, an investigation began and progressed. Police found him and did surveillance on him.

It’s unclear why Douglas was bonded out of jail after his initial arrest on Wednesday. Sult told reporters, “The police department does not have a say in how bonds are set.”

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said Douglas was arrested a second time after a pretrial violation just as he was released.

After his release, he remained under surveillance by law enforcement, Sult said Thursday. His second arrest came from the federal charges Douglas now faces for interstate threats. He is in federal custody, where he will remain until at least Tuesday.

Previous federal charges

Douglas was convicted in federal court in 2016 for making threats against the British Embassy, according to Mike Easley Jr., the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He also has “an extensive history of threatening behavior beginning around 2002 and spanning at least eight states,” according to a press release and court documents.

“It’s disappointing to see someone who is a repeat offender in this case,” Easley said.

Sult praised the team effort of the multiple law agencies that worked together to arrest Douglas and prevent a possible mass shooting.

Freeman told reporters that the federal government has “a little bit bigger hammer in this case.”

Police would not directly comment on whether Douglas had any weapons in his possession when he was arrested. However, Wake County Freeman said Douglas was not charged locally or federally with possession of a firearm.

Easley stated that having the means to carry out an attack is not a requirement for criminal prosecution in this case.