Editor's Note: This article corrects the bond amount.

East Lyme — Police arrested a former student in the town’s school system Wednesday on charges he posted an online threat promising a “hail of bullets” after the school break this week.

Tyler McKenzie, 18, of 49 Cubles Drive in East Lyme was arrested at his home following a week of investigation into a threat that First Selectman Paul Formica said had “consumed all of the folks of East Lyme.”

The post appeared Dec. 23 on the social media application Yik Yak. It was posted by an anonymous user who wrote: “East Lyme better get ready for the hail of bullets I’ve been bullied to [sic] long and after break I’m going to let all my anger out.”

Police said there was no evidence McKenzie had access to any firearms.

The threat led School Superintendent James Lombardo to cancel several sporting events scheduled at East Lyme High School while police investigated.

The arrest was timely, Lombardo said, since it offers some assurance to parents that students returning next week will be safe.

He said students should still expect a greater police presence, along with additional screening procedures, at schools on Monday. Lombardo notified parents earlier this week that backpack checks would be made at the middle school and high school.

Counselors will also be on hand for any students still upset by the event.

Lombardo did not immediately have information about McKenzie as a student, but The Day archives list McKenzie as a 2014 graduate of East Lyme High School.

Wednesday’s arrest came as the result of a joint effort by East Lyme police, detectives from the Eastern District Major Crime Squad, investigators from Troop E in Montville, the New London County State’s Attorney’s Office and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Taskforce.

Troop E Commander Lt. Michael Thomas said the investigation involved multiple search warrants, including one executed at McKenzie’s home that turned up evidence of the crime. McKenzie has no weapons registered in his name and no weapons were discovered at the time of his arrest.

Thomas declined to elaborate on any details of what led police to McKenzie and said a motive was unclear.

According to law enforcement guidelines on Yik Yak’s website, Yik Yak keeps a log of the Internet Protocol addresses, GPS coordinates and time and date related to each message. Under federal law, Yik Yak may provide information to law enforcement if requested in response to an emergency situation.

In a news release, police said McKenzie admitted his involvement under questioning by detectives. McKenzie appears to have acted alone, Thomas said.

Charged with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace, McKenzie remains held in lieu of a $25,000 bond and is expected to appear Friday in New London Superior Court.

gsmith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay