18-year-old charged for making threats against Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — An 18-year-old is facing charges after he allegedly made threats against the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts on Friday, Buffalo police announced.

According to officials, school administrators were made aware by students of a threatening post about the school on social media.

The Buffalo Police Department’s Threat Management Unit then started an investigation and identified the person who allegedly made the post as Matthew Valdiva Merced of Buffalo, police said.

Authorities said officers and detectives apprehended and arrested Merced on the 200 block of Plymouth Avenue on Friday and recovered a Taurus G2C handgun.

Merced has been charged with the following:

• one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon

• one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon

• one count of making a threat of mass harm

Buffalo police encourages the public to report suspicious comments or activity by calling or texting its confidential tip line at (716) 847-2255.

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Buffalo teen charged in connection with school threat made on social media

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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