UPDATE: The FBI has arrested a junior at Cornell University for making online threats to Jewish students on the Ithaca campus.
21-year-old Patrick Dai, of Pittsford, is accused of posting threatening messages to the Cornell section of an online discussion site, including posts calling for the deaths of Jewish people and a post that said “gonna shoot up 104 west.” 104 West is a reference to a Cornell dining hall that caters predominantly to Kosher diets and is located next door to the Cornell Jewish Center, which provides residences for Cornell students. In another post, Dai allegedly threatened to “stab” and “slit the throat” of any Jewish males he sees on campus, to rape and throw off a cliff any Jewish females and to behead Jewish babies. In that same post, Dai threatened to “bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig jews.”
Dai is charged with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications. If convicted, Dai faces a maximum five years in prison and a fine of up to 250-THOUSAND dollars.
State Police have taken a person into custody for questioning regarding the threat of antisemitic violence on the Cornell University campus. Governor Kathy Hochul made the announcement through a statement Tuesday afternoon:
“When I met with Cornell students yesterday, I promised them New York State would do everything possible to find the perpetrator who threatened a mass shooting and antisemitic violence on campus. Earlier today, law enforcement identified a person of interest as part of the investigation and this individual is currently in the custody of the New York State Police for questioning. Public safety is my top priority and I’m committed to combatting hate and bias wherever it rears its ugly head.”
A series of antisemitic messages threatening violence to the Jewish community on the campus of Cornell University were posted on a website unaffiliated with the University. The messages specifically named 104 West, which is the University’s home of the Center for Jewish Living.
No other details on the person in custody have been released.
