FBI Arrest Texas Man Who Allegedly Threatened To Kill 200 Black Lives Matter Protestors
On Monday, FBI agents arrested a Texas man who allegedly uploaded a video on YouTube, threatening to kill 200 Black Lives Matter protestors. Authorities identified the man as 42-year-old Manuel Flores, a truck driver from El Paso, and are charging him with one count of transmitting a deadly threat over the internet.
In a press release issued by the Justice Department, it states, “During the video, the defendant is seated visible only from the knees down with what appears to be an AR-15 style rifle resting on the defendant’s feet. Flores stated that he would be traveling on I-20 Eastbound through Dallas on Monday while daring individuals representing Black Lives Matter to ‘stop him.'”
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While using racial slurs to describe protestors, authorities say Flores stated that he hoped to kill as many as 200 people. After a social media user tipped off the police, the FBI launched an investigation and tracked Flores’ post to his phone. After grabbing his location, they went to his home around 3 a.m. on Sunday, where he ended up confessing to the video; which he says he uploaded while intoxicated off of “eight or nine beers.”
The federal criminal complaint added, “Flores stated that he loves America and is upset about what is going on right now. However, Flores has no intention of harming anyone but would defend himself if he had to. Flores was remorseful and apologetic to interviewing FBI Special Agents.”
Posting to Twitter, U.S. Attorney John Bash added, “Our office will treat any threats of violence against protesters extremely seriously. “
https://twitter.com/USAttyBash/status/1273395638051508224
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