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As the case against a Michigan Tech student accused of posting a racial threat moves forward, some are calling into question the validity of the original post.
21-year-old Matthew Allen Shultz of Norway, MI is charged with Disturbing the Peace, a 90 day misdemeanor for posting what the prosecution called an “egregious” statement on the anonymous social media site Yik Yak,
Michigan Tech officials have stated the post said Shultz threatened to shoot black people, which prompted an immediate response from the university.
Since Shultz’s appearance in court on Monday, several posts have appeared on social media claiming his original post has been altered.
Those posts claim Shultz really said “Gonna shoot all black people…a smile” and was in support of African Americans experiencing racial tensions in other parts of the country.
An unaltered post has not been produced at this time but a screen shot of the reported post has circulated online.
Shultz is scheduled for a preliminary exam on November 30th.
It is unclear whether Houghton County Prosecutor Michael Makinen, who has yet to release a statement on the case, has any of the alleged evidence.
Makinen did say he was “seriously considering” dismissing the misdemeanor charge.
