Kentucky man arrested after reportedly threatening FBI agent for questioning him about Nashville bombing

Published 1:46 pm Friday, January 29, 2021

A Kentucky man has been arrested after allegedly threatening to kill an FBI agent for questioning him about the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville.

James Keith Ray of Henderson was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing in the bombing. Hours after the explosion, the FBI received a tip about Ray who had posted on social media rants about AT&T.

Ray has reportedly stated that, “AT&T was abusing their power and how their (AT&T’s) policies were criminal.” Investigators looked to interview Ray and discovered the FBI already knew of previous concerning statements he had made about AT&T.

The Nashville bombing targeted an AT&T building, leading to equipment damage that knocked out telephone service needed for 911 centers and credit card transactions, among other services, in the city and portions of other states, including Kentucky, according to multiple reports.

According to the criminal complaint, FBI agents questioned Ray at his home on Christmas evening. They ruled him out as a suspect that day.

Soon after in early January, Ray allegedly posted threats to one of the agents on Twitter:

“Agent Brown if you ever step on this property while I’m here you are a dead man do you hear me there is no amount of armor that will protect you from the range of my f—–g soul,” Ray wrote in the tweet, according to the affidavit. The tweet appears to have been deleted.

The tweet was posted on Jan. 5, according to the FBI. Ray was arrested Jan. 8, according to court records. He was charged with interstate transmission of a threat to injure a person, according to court records. The case remained sealed until Friday.