New Jersey

Ex-New Jersey Black College Student Leader Admits to Tweeting Fake Threats

Kayla McKelvey, 25, pleaded guilty Monday to creating a false public alarm

The former leader of a black student group at Kean University tweeted anonymous threats against fellow black students last fall because she wanted more people to attend a rally on racial injustice, according to prosecutors.

Kayla McKelvey, 25, pleaded guilty Monday to creating a false public alarm. State prosecutors will recommend that McKelvey be sentenced to 90 days in jail and pay restitution of about $82,000 to cover the costs of the police response and heightened security at Kean after the threats.

According to prosecutors, McKelvey tweeted threats from a campus library because she wanted more people to attend the Nov. 17, 2015, rally on racial issues. She then returned to the rally to tell people about the threats.

One tweet addressed to campus police read: "@kupolice I will kill all the blacks tonight, tomorrow and any other day if they go to Kean University."

The university increased security and several law enforcement agencies were also alerted, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The threats also prompted a group of black ministers to call for Kean President Dawood Farahi to resign, saying the threats showed he hadn't done enough to address racial tension on campus.

McKelvey and her attorney had sought to have her participate in a pretrial intervention program that would have allowed her to avoid jail. But a judge denied that request last week.

Her sentencing is scheduled for June 17.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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