A Florida man who threatened to shoot up a local synagogue and has said publicly that he hates Jews was apprehended on Friday by the FBI.
Hanson Larkin, 25, was in an Orlando federal court the same day, charged with making threats through interstate communication to, according to police, a Jewish man that included: “If meeting me for five seconds is not worth the lives of multiple Jews then I have no other option” and “There’s a Chabad near me. And Amtrak has no security for weapons. Don’t make me make a choice they’ll regret.”
A Jewish male, Lizardo Rivas, 44, allegedly rejected romantic advances from Larkin and notified authorities of the threats.
Rivas said he has communicated with Larkin for two years, and that the suspect has expressed bigotry towards Jews and had suicidal thoughts.
Larkin appeared in court again on Tuesday and was denied bail. He could face up to five years behind bars if convicted.
In related news, also on Friday, a 45-year-old man in Daytona Beach, Fla., was charged with making threats, including against Jews.
Leo Arong Jr. posted the threats on YouTube during a livestream of the “PBS NewsHour.” It included “I hate jews because I am an inbred LOSER. We have to kill jews in order for LOSERS like me to feel relevant. Thank you.”
He was charged with making written threats to kill or harm people related to a mass shooting or act of terrorism, and was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail. He was denied bail.
