“Shoot to Kill” Suspect Charged Over NY School Threats

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Diego Rodriguez, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that DANIEL GRUBER was arrested yesterday on stalking charges related to threats he allegedly made to a New York school and its leadership.

According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

During March and April 2015, DANIEL GRUBER made a series of harassing internet posts, emails, and telephone calls to various individuals associated with the school. The internet posts were made using different aliases on Google Plus, a social media platform, and became increasingly violent and threatening during the days and weeks before GRUBER’s arrest. In one of these posts, for example, GRUBER, using the alias “Daniel Wintour,” threatened to “burn [the school] to the ground.” In another post, GRUBER, using the same alias, stated that he had prayed and “intend[ed] to destroy the school.” These posts were public.

In addition to threatening the school, GRUBER also threatened multiple individuals affiliated with the school’s leadership. GRUBER told one victim, for example, that he “shoot[s] to kill,” and, on multiple occasions, warned the victim to watch for “the red dot” on his forehead. Other posts referenced and made threats to the victim’s business and family.

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GRUBER, 36, was taken into federal custody yesterday in New York, New York. He is charged with one count of stalking. In connection with this charge, GRUBER faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Bharara praised the investigative work of the FBI in this matter. He also thanked the New York City Police Department for its assistance with this investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Allen is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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