Former Kean Student Admits Sending Death Threats: Prosecutor

Union, NJ -- A former black Kean University student admitted to sending Twitter death threats last fall targeting black students during a peaceful rally on campus regarding racial issues, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Monday.

Kayla McKelvey, 25, of Union Township pleaded guilty to a single count of third-degree creating a false public alarm before state Superior Court Judge William Daniel on Monday morning.

She could face up to 90 days in Union County Jail and have to pay restitution of approximately $82,000 to cover the costs of the police response and heightened security at Kean during the several days after the threatening posts were made.

McKelvey, a self-proclaimed activist, participated in an on-campus student rally regarding racial issues held on the evening of Tuesday, November 17 and left halfway through the rally to go to a computer station located in a nearby university library, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Barnes, who prosecuted the case.

She allegedly created an anonymous account on the social media site, Twitter, and posted racially charged threats of violence, including “i will kill every black male and female at kean university,” and “@kupolice i will kill all the blacks tonight, tomorrow and any other day if they go to Kean university," Barnes confirmed.

"After making the posts, the investigation revealed, McKelvey immediately returned to the rally and attempted to spread awareness of the threats she had just fabricated," the prosecutor's report stated.

There was never any actual plan to harm students an intensive joint investigation by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Unit and the Kean University Police Department further revealed.

Sentencing in the case has been set for Friday, June 17 before state Superior Court Judge Robert J. Mega.

(Photo, LinkedIn)