A man from Bostic, North Carolina, has been charged after allegedly threatening to target Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workers in response to reports circulating on social media about a lack of aid. William Parsons believed the claims that FEMA was not providing assistance in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which affected Florida and spread chaos across six other states before moving north. Upon arriving in the hard-hit area of Lake Lure, he came to a different conclusion regarding the agency’s response efforts.
In a phone interview, Parsons recounted a post he made online calling for volunteers to “overtake the FEMA site” and accused the organization of withholding critical supplies. The 44-year-old’s post emphasized his frustration, as expressed in his words: “We the people are done playing games. It’s time to show who we are and what we believe.” However, upon visiting the site, he discovered it was not as he had anticipated, leading him to volunteer instead of engaging in any disruptive behavior. “I went up and saw that there was absolutely nothing there, so I stayed, and I volunteered all day,” Parsons stated.
His comments came amidst concerns that FEMA workers could be in danger following his online threats. Nonetheless, officials later clarified that Parsons acted alone in making the threats. Due to precautions for personnel safety, FEMA altered its operations briefly, but by Monday, workers were back on duty. The agency has dealt with numerous false claims regarding its disaster response following the hurricane that struck on September 26.
According to reports from Captain Jamie Keever of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Parsons was reported to authorities after a gas station attendant cited a vague threat from him. He allegedly expressed intentions of harming FEMA personnel in Rutherford County. Parsons was apprehended at a grocery store in Lake Lure, which served as both a distribution point for FEMA assistance and a donation collection site. Keever remarked that it appeared Parsons was not part of any relief efforts when arrested, questioning why he was armed in that scenario. Parsons had reportedly been carrying an AR-style rifle and two handguns at the time of his arrest.
After being identified as a suspect, he was charged with a misdemeanor for “going armed to the terror of the public” and was subsequently released after posting bond. Initial claims suggested that multiple individuals were involved in threatening actions; however, investigations confirmed that Parsons was the sole actor. He explained that he carried a legally owned firearm on him while keeping the rifle and another pistol secured in his vehicle.
During a court appearance, a public defender was assigned to represent Parsons, who now awaits his next court date set for November 12. Efforts to reach the public defender’s office for comment were unsuccessful.