PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Prosecutors said Friday that the FBI found references to the violent online network known as “764” and numerous searches about harming others on devices belonging to the teenager charged in the Benson Polytechnic High School chemical incident.
The allegations are drawing attention to a broader threat the FBI says targets children through social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps.
The 15-year-old faces 19 charges, including 12 counts of attempted murder or attempted aggravated murder and domestic terrorism charges, following the Sept. 8 incident at the school in Portland’s Kerns neighborhood. Investigators say he mixed chemicals in the cafeteria and inhaled fumes, critically injuring himself.
The references described in court do not, by themselves, establish that the teenager was a member of 764.
What happened in court
Prosecutors also alleged that the teenager’s social media posts showed a fascination with explosives.
His defense team presented letters from psychiatrists recommending continued inpatient care. The court ordered him returned to the hospital for treatment and prohibited contact with victims. Prosecutors said they would seek reconsideration of his hospital placement.
What is 764?
The FBI describes 764 and related groups as violent online networks that manipulate children and other vulnerable people into producing sexual abuse material, harming themselves or others, or engaging in other violent acts.
Members may initially pose as friends or romantic partners. After gaining a victim’s trust, they obtain private information or explicit images and use that material as leverage, threatening to expose it unless the victim follows their demands, according to the FBI.
Victims are typically ages 10 to 17, though the FBI has identified victims as young as nine.
Bartjan Wegter, the European Union’s counterterrorism coordinator, described online communities where violence becomes a way to gain recognition.
“It’s violence as a means of asserting oneself, as a means of gaining status in those online communities,” Wegter said.
He described some of that activity as nihilistic violence because it lacks a direct link to an ideology.
“So, it’s violence for the sake of violence,” he said.
The FBI says motivations vary. Some participants seek chaos, while others act for sexual gratification, social status or a sense of belonging.
Investigations across the country
All 56 FBI field offices nationwide are involved in investigations into these violent online networks, including Portland, according to the bureau.
ABC News reported in November 2025 that the FBI had opened at least 350 investigations tied to 764 and similar networks. In a separate May 2026 update, the FBI said it was investigating more than 450 people linked to violent online networks.
Those figures measure different things: investigations and people under investigation.
What parents should watch for
The FBI urges parents and caregivers to watch for changes that could indicate a child is being exploited, including:
Withdrawing from family, friends or usual activities.
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits.
- Unexplained cuts, burns, bruises or other injuries.
- A new online friend the child seems afraid of or unusually focused on.
- Unexpected gifts, gaming currency or packages.
- Talking about suicide or not being wanted or needed.
These signs do not, on their own, prove a connection to 764. They can be reasons to check on a child’s safety and seek help.
Keep communication open
Jennifer Doty, an associate professor of prevention science at the University of Oregon, said parents should approach conversations about online activity with curiosity.
“First, talk to your kids, be curious, ask them how things are going, ask them what they’re doing online, ask them about the memes they’re watching,” Doty said. “And when they tell you something a little scary, hold your tongue, stay calm and be curious.”
Doty said parents should also explain how private pictures can be used to manipulate children once they are shared.
She cautioned that shutting down all access to technology can backfire if children create accounts their parents do not know about. Instead, she recommended reasonable rules, monitoring and frequent conversations.
“Big takeaway is talk to your kids, help them understand what the risks are, and make sure that there’s an open line of communication between parents and kids,” she said.
How to report concerns
The FBI recommends using parental controls, knowing whom children communicate with online, and discussing the risks of sharing personal information, photos and videos.
If exploitation is suspected, preserve messages and identifying information, including usernames and the platforms involved, for investigators.
Report concerns at tips.fbi.gov or call 800-225-5324, also known as 800-CALL-FBI. Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
Anyone experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
