RI man accused of making threat against Gillette Stadium

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — An East Providence man accused of making a threat against Gillette Stadium before the New England Patriots's regular season opener will face charges in Massachusetts.

Tobias Gray appeared in Providence District Court on Monday on charges connected to a separate domestic assault charge in East Providence, as well as a charge from being a fugitive from justice from Massachusetts, where he was wanted by Foxborough police.

East Providence police said they had a warrant for Gray for a domestic assault charge. When authorities showed up to arrest him Sunday, he allegedly made expletive-laden threats to an East Providence police officer, so he was also charged with threats to a public official.

As for why Gray was wanted by Foxborough police, he allegedly made a Facebook post about his displeasure with Antonio Brown coming to the Patriots, and Foxborough police took it as a threat to Gillette.

Gray's attorney, Stefanie DiMaio Larivee, said his client may be a frustrated fan, but meant no harm.

"He just said it was almost -- it was just a reaction. And he put something up there as any other fan might. He immediately took it down. I didn't see the post myself, so I can't comment on what it said," DiMaio Larivee said.

According to a criminal complaint, Facebook post said he would shoot up random people at Foxborough because the Patriots landed a wide receiver.

In full the Facebook Post from Tobias Gray said:

I don't even really post too many things so you know this is real since the Patriots signed Antonio Brown. I'm going to pull a white boys school shooting at Foxboro you might as well just hand them the ring right now. I'm if I ever get my hands on a gun which I don't have one yet but I'm looking, I will go shoot up random people at Foxboro. [Explitive] the Patriots.

At first the Foxborough police would not comment on the threat.

NBC 10 was given a letter that Foxborough Police Chief William Baker sent out to members of his staff on the situation.

It instructed his staff to say the department was withholding comment on the case. The message did, however, point out that the department would “respond vigorously” to the post.

But later in the afternoon, the department sent out a release that indicated that they had been made aware of the threat on Saturday night at 8:44 p.m. by state police.

The department says it started collaborating with East Providence police along with state and federal partners.

As a result of the investigation, Foxborough Police say a warrant was issued on Sunday for Gray.

The department and the Norfolk District attorney's Office have obtained an extraditable warrant for the charge of Threatening to Commit a Crime and Uttering a Terroristic Threat.

Gray waived extradition to Massachusetts, which means authorities from that state can come get him as soon as possible.

The Foxborough Police Department said it would continue to investigate all threatening social media posts.

In part it said:

Chief Baker confirms that the Foxborough Police will continue to confront the ongoing challenge of malevolent and criminal social media posts and vigorously investigate those cases in close collaboration with our local, state and federal and private sector partners and take appropriate action as allowed by Massachusetts law.

The threat did not appear to disrupt the Patriots game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. New England won 33-3.