Background: McDonald’s and Sonic locations in East Alton, Illinois (Google Maps). Insets (left to right): Austin Blair and Jarrett Maki (Madison County Sheriff’s Office).
Two individuals are facing charges for allegedly making terroristic threats aimed at several fast food establishments in Illinois, claiming there would be an “active shooter” situation.
Austin Blair and Jarrett Maki, both 25 years old, have been charged with 11 counts of issuing terroristic threats to McDonald’s, Domino’s, and Sonic outlets in Illinois. As detailed in court documents provided by the East Alton Police Department, Blair and Maki allegedly contacted these restaurants claiming they saw “a guy with a big gun approaching your store” and warning “there’s about to be an active shooter at your location in five to 10 minutes.”
According to police, the two men made a series of intimidating phone calls over a month-long period, from late July to late August, before being arrested. Court records indicate that on July 28, Maki and Blair allegedly called a Taco Bell in East Alton, warning “I see a guy with a big gun walking toward your store.”
That same day, it is alleged they called a McDonald’s and a Sonic, warning staff that “a shooter was coming to the store and didn’t care if police were present at the scene.” Additionally, they allegedly made a similar claim to a Casey’s in Wood River, indicating there would be an “active shooter” situation in five to 10 minutes.
The court documents suggest the calls continued into the following day. On July 29, Maki or Blair reportedly contacted an employee at a Domino’s in East Alton, threatening to “shoot up the store.” Similar threats were allegedly directed at the same McDonald’s and Sonic locations by the two individuals on July 30 and 31.
After a pause in the alleged calls that lasted more than one week, another call was made to the East Alton Domino’s on Aug. 10, when either Blair or Maki allegedly called threatening to “blow their heads off.” Another call placed to the same Domino’s on Aug. 21 allegedly included a threat to blow up the building and shoot the staff.
On Aug. 27, police said that Blair and Maki were behind a call placed to the Runway Lounge in Bethalto, Illinois that stated, “[Y]ou ever had an assault rifle in your face[?]”
Police stated that the alleged threats caused “fear and disruption” at the restaurants, some of which chose to close early out of safety concerns.
According to East Alton police, they began investigating the calls and determined that they were coming from a home in the same town. When they searched the home, they found and arrested Blair. Their investigation also led them to Maki, who is a resident of Detroit, Michigan. Maki was arrested after being located in Madison, Illinois.
Both men are charged with 11 counts of making terroristic threats. According to Detroit-based Fox affiliate WJBK, Blair was released from custody while Maki remains in Madison County Jail. Maki was reportedly fired from his job at the Detroit City Football Club. Blair is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 26 and Maki is scheduled for Oct. 3.
