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Threat posted on Snapchat puts Butler County man in jail

BUTLER COUNTY, Pa. — A Butler County man is in jail after sharing a picture of a rifle with the caption “ready for school,” according to Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI.

Ryan McConnell, 24, of Center Township, is accused of posting the picture on the app Snapchat while holding an AR-15.

State troopers arrested McConnell on Sunday after the FBI received a tip about the threatening post.

Channel 11 was unable to get the Snapchat picture, but according to police, McConnell posted a picture of himself holding an AR-15 rifle, a canister of ammunition with the worded caption below the photo reading “ready for school.”

Troopers say a specific school or district was not listed and that McConnell is not in high school.

When authorities went to his home, they took into evidence a rifle, a pistol, ammunition and cellphones, according to a criminal complaint.

Police wrote that the suspect told troopers, “the photo was meant to be a joke and he had no intention of following through.”

“When you post something on social media it’s always out there on the internet. You cannot take it away,” said Trooper Herb Reiger, with Pennsylvania State Police.