MANSFIELD, Ohio -- As the search continued Tuesday for one of the FBI's most wanted suspects, neighbors in southern Richland County were keeping their eyes open and doors locked.
The Ohio Highway Patrol is searching for Shawn R. Christy, a man wanted by federal law enforcement agencies who's believed to have crashed a vehicle on Interstate 71 in Richland County on Sunday.
"He is here. We still think he is in the area," Anne Murphy, deputy U.S. Marshal, said of Christy Tuesday.
Murphy asked residents to continue to be vigilant and lock their doors and vehicles. "Don't leave your car keys out. If you see something, call your local law enforcement right away," she said. "Call right away."
Madison and Lucas schools and St. Mary's School on Ashland Road closed Tuesday due to security concerns.
Throughout the day, neighbors watched law enforcement officers search the area in and around southern Richland County.
Ginger Mosey said she has been concerned about the fugitive possibly being in Mansfield.
"I didn't know it was out here," she said outside her house Tuesday afternoon.
Mosey said she is glad she has a large dog.
She asked marshals to check a neighbor's house, just to be safe.
Dan Reynolds and Larry Kochheiser were outside their houses Tuesday afternoon, talking about the fugitive being in and around the area.
"I'm just keeping everything locked up," said Reynolds. U.S marshals told them to keep their eyes open. "Until they catch the dude, you just don't know."
Residents in the area where the marshals were searching said they have watched the law enforcement officers and K-9s at work.
Reynolds said he usually doesn't lock his vehicles but said he is now.
"I hope they catch the dude or else you're going to be on edge," he said.
The Mansfield post of the Ohio Highway Patrol Tuesday morning said the search remains ongoing.
Christy is wanted by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals and the U.S. Secret Service for multiple offenses, the patrol reported. He's considered armed and dangerous.
According to an FBI wanted poster, Christy, of McAdoo, Pennsylvania, is wanted for allegedly threatening to harm or kill President Donald Trump, a police chief, other law enforcement officers and a district attorney.
Christy may have injured his knee during his flight, The Standard Speaker of Hazleton, Pa., reported on Sept. 15.
Karen Christy, his mother, told the Standard Speaker she and her husband, Craig, learned of their son's injury from a Facebook post he made Sept. 13.
“I think I shattered my knee during a MD (Maryland) getaway, so I’ve been slowed down a bit,” he said in the message, which was posted around 11 p.m. “Stay safe, I have a mission to complete.”
Federal marshals said then they believed he was on his way back to Pennsylvania from Kentucky on Aug. 19 when he was seen sleeping in a vehicle in Cumberland, Maryland, but woke up in time to run from police. The injury may have occurred then.
In August, Christy’s parents left this message for him on Facebook: “Praying your safe tonight Shawn Christy and that you will give up and come home. We sure do miss you son and nothing is as bad as it seems. Love you forever, that will never change. Mom and Dad.”
The 26-year-old Christy has been on the lam through five states and Canada since June 6, when he failed to appear in Schuylkill County Court on an assault charge. When he allegedly threatened President Donald Trump online, federal marshals and the FBI got involved in the chase, according to the Standard Speaker.
The reward for Christy has risen to $20,000 for providing information that would lead to his arrest. He is considered armed and dangerous due to the threats he made online and the weapons police believe he possesses.
Christy is 5 feet 10 inches and 150 to 160 pounds with green eyes and short brown or dark blond hair and a beard. He has a tattoo of a cross on his upper right arm.
REPORT WHAT YOU SEE
Keep houses and cars locked and secured, and keys out of sight. If you see Shawn Christy, call 911 or the Ohio Highway Patrol, 419-756-2222.
Tips also can be reported to the U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED and the tip to TIP411 (847411).
Federal agents are offering a cash award of up to $20,000 for information leading to the direct arrest of Christy. Any information will be considered confidential, and tipsters can remain anonymous.