Belleville man accused of school shooting threat

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A Belleville man who was on probation on a weapons charge is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail after being accused of threatening a shooting at a private southwestern Illinois school.

The Belleville News-Democrat (http://bit.ly/VL3CXZ ) reports St. Clair County prosecutors have charged 25-year-old Brian Smith with making a terrorist threat.

Authorities contend Smith sent a text threatening a former girlfriend and her children. He allegedly wrote in one message he would "shoot up the school right now."

An investigator notified Belleville's St. Theresa's School, which the woman's children attended.

Court records show Smith already was on probation for using a .25-caliber handgun without a valid firearm owners' identification card.

The public defender's office representing Smith hasn't returned a call seeking comment.

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Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com