Woman arrested over Peoria church shooting threat, swatting, stalking, police say

A Peoria woman is facing dozens of criminal charges after allegedly threatening a mass shooting at her family’s church, threatening to rape several victims, including her mother, threatening to kill her father, filing false emergency reports, stalking and more.

Shelbey Fernandez, 30, is accused of carrying out a yearslong harassment campaign targeting her parents, other relatives, neighbors, family acquaintances and members of her family’s Jehovah’s Witness congregation in Peoria, according to court documents.

She was arrested this week at her family home in Peoria, where she lived with her parents and several siblings.

What was the alleged threat against the Peoria Kingdom Hall?

On July 9, Fernandez allegedly sent her mother a text threatening a shooting at the family’s congregation.

“I’ll get out my .500 S&W Magnum and just pew everyone at your gay-ass church. My target is 18. Maybe I’ll do it this week,” the message said, according to court documents.

Fernandez is also accused of sending her mother images of rifles and handguns on Aug. 5, along with a message that read, “Can’t wait to test these out at your cult gathering.”

The threats prompted the congregation to move its services online, affecting in-person gatherings, according to court documents. The congregation began holding services over Zoom on July 12 and had not resumed meeting in person as of Tuesday.

Peoria woman accused of using 14 phone numbers for harassment campaign

Police said Fernandez’s parents did not suspect that their daughter was sending the threats.

Over seven years, Fernandez allegedly used multiple internet-based phone numbers to conceal her identity while targeting 23 people.

She allegedly posed as the husband of a doctor who had previously treated her, leading her parents to believe he was behind messages containing threats of stalking, rape and murder, as well as racial slurs and insults about their religion.

Fernandez’s parents repeatedly reported the man to law enforcement, prompting officers to contact and investigate him and his wife.

On June 10, Fernandez allegedly sent her mother an image showing a nude minor’s genitals and suggested that it depicted the couple’s minor daughter.

In another message sent on a date not specified in court documents, Fernandez allegedly wrote, “I’ll keep sending child porn of my [child’s name]. Nothing you can do.”

Fernandez also faces false reporting charges

Between July 8 and July 18, Fernandez allegedly made at least 10 false reports that prompted responses from law enforcement agencies in Arizona and Florida.

The reports included fabricated shootings, hostage situations, domestic disputes, death threats and overdoses, according to court documents. Police were dispatched to:

• Her parents’ home in Peoria
• Several other Peoria residences
• Relatives’ property in New River
• Relatives’ home in Chino Valley
• A friend of her mother’s home in Florida

Investigators said Fernandez later sent messages referencing or taunting victims about the swatting incidents.

In one example detailed in court documents, Fernandez allegedly called her mother’s friend in Florida the N-word, sent her a photo of a penis and threatened to rape her and “Then throw you in a pond and watch gators tear you apart.”

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