WRBL reports a post threatening black fairgoers began to be investigated by the Opelika Police Department on September 19, 2022.
The Opelika PD released as statement which said, in part, "Early yesterday, 9/19/s022, the Opelika Police Department was made aware of a racially inflammatory post on Facebook where an individual threatened to shoot attendees of a certain demographic at the upcoming Lee County Fair."
Opelika Police chief Shane Healey said, "The department takes threats like these very seriously and immediately began an investigation. Officials were able to trace the social media account to a residence in Lafayette, AL. Through the investigation, 18-year-old Pharrell Smith was developed as a suspect. On 10/06/2022, the Lafayette Police Department arrested Smith on unrelated charges."