Lexington man charged after threatening River Bluff High students on social media

A Lexington man with a history of threatening River Bluff High School students and staff has been charged with social media attacks against River Bluff High School students, including videos about putting them in body bags.

Christopher Glen Raines, aka “AJ Blues,” 42, was charged with unlawful communication, Lexington Police Chief Terrence Green said Monday.

Raines made a series of verbal and written threats of violence on his Facebook and Twitter pages, along with numerous videos posted on his YouTube page between Aug. 17 and Sept. 17, authorities said.

“This week’s prediction: RBHS students killed this week while committing crimes on private property,” Raines said Sunday on Facebook and Twitter, according to police.

In a YouTube post, Raines shared a video of himself in his yard with a bow and arrow using explosive arrowheads, which are designed to use .357 or .38 Special ammunition, authorities said.

During these videos, police said, Raines made reference to students being put into body bags.

According to Lexington County tax records, Raines is listed as a co-owner of a residence on Mill Stream Road, approximately a mile from River Bluff High.

There were complaints from residents in the area when the school district proposed building River Bluff High, which opened in 2013. Some of the concerns were over more traffic and changes to the environment caused by continued development.

Raines is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a Tuesday bond hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Raines has a criminal record that involves alcohol, according to criminal records at the State Law Enforcement Division.

He has convictions on DUI from 1998 and 2002, possession of LSD in 2004 and public drunkenness in 2001.

More recent charges in 2011 and 2012 that involve criminal domestic violence and DUI have not been resolved according to SLED’s data.

Lexington 1 school district said it supports the Lexington Police Department’s action.

“Raines has repeatedly threatened and harassed River Bluff High School students and staff, board members and district officials,” the school district said in a statement.

The school district said it put Raines on a districtwide “No Trespass Notice” in September 2016.That meant he could not be on any Lexington 1 property for any purpose, including extracurricular activities such as athletic events or other student performance, after threatening comments made toward students.

Raines continued threatening the district, students and staff through social media, the district said.

“The district’s No. 1 priority as a school district is the safety and security of every child who walks through our doors,” said Greg Little, Lexington 1 superintendent. “When parents send their children to our schools they entrust those children to our care. We believe Mr. Raines’ conduct over the last year has compromised our students’ safety and well-being.”

This story was originally published September 18, 2017 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Lexington man charged after threatening River Bluff High students on social media."