SLED agents arrest Lexington County man accused of threatening the life of Sheriff Jay Koon

Lexington County, SC 02/07/2024 (Paul Kirby) – Agents with the SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED) have arrested a 44-year-old Lexington County man they say threatened the life of Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon. Agents say that Erik Joseph McBride emailed threats to Koon, and they were in turn asked to investigate.

Eventually agents obtained a warrant to search McBride’s home where they said they found “a viable formula for an improvised explosive device,” or (IED). After the search, McBride was charged with the manufacture, possession, use aid or counsel of a bomb/hoax device or replica, threatening the life or family of a public official and unlawful communication.

McBride was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center and then transferred to the Newberry County Detention Center where he is awaiting a hearing. This type of transfer is not uncommon when a suspect is charged with crimes against an employee of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department or its Detention Center.