In a chilling turn of events, Patrick Dai, a 21-year-old junior at Cornell University hailing from Pittsford, New York, found himself in the hot seat today. Federal charges were slapped on him, accusing him of making threats to harm or kill others through interstate communications. The news came from a lineup of authorities, including United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Acting Special Agent Alfred Watson from the Albany Field Office of the FBI, Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento from the New York State Police, and Cornell University Police Chief Anthony Bellamy.
The accusations detail Dai’s alleged posts on a Cornell online discussion platform, where he not only called for the deaths of Jewish people but also ominously mentioned “gonna shoot up 104 west.” Now, 104 West happens to be a Cornell University dining hall, mainly serving Kosher diets, situated next to the Cornell Jewish Center, a residential hub for Cornell students.
The disturbing saga doesn’t end there. Another post reportedly saw Dai threatening to “stab” and “slit the throat” of Jewish males on campus, promising to commit heinous acts against Jewish females, and horrifyingly, even mentioning beheading Jewish babies. In the same breath, Dai allegedly threatened to “bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig Jews.” These are not just accusations; they are grave charges that carry a heavy weight.
The charge pinned on Dai could land him a maximum of 5 years behind bars, a hefty fine of up to $250,000, and a supervised release term of up to 3 years. However, it’s crucial to remember that these charges are allegations at this stage, and Dai is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.
Dai is slated to make his first appearance tomorrow in a federal court in Syracuse, New York, facing a United States Magistrate Judge. The investigation is being handled by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), in collaboration with the New York State Police, Cornell University Police Department, and the Ithaca Police Department. The legal proceedings are spearheaded by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, working hand in hand with the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice.
Stay tuned for updates on this unsettling incident, marking a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance against online threats and hate speech.