An 18-year-old St. John's University student posted messages on his Facebook page threatening to kill people on campus by committing a “Virginia Tech attack,” apparently referring to the 2007 campus shooting in which a student shot and killed 32 people and wounded many others, the district attorney's office said today.
The student, Radames Santiago, was charged with making a terroristic threat after he posted messages earlier this week saying he was going “crazy” and that “people should watch as he does some Virginia Tech [stuff],” according to the District Attorney's office.
He also allegedly posted a message stating that he “knows he will do it. You know I will, and to make sure that people watch CNN or something every day after” he went on his planned massacre.
Facebook users reported the threats to St. John’s University officials, who called the cops.
Any threats made on social networking sites will be treated seriously and thoroughly investigated, said District Attorney Richard Brown.
"Students should feel that they are in a safe environment when they attend school," Brown said in a statement. "Attempts to disturb or threaten the peaceful campus atmosphere will not be tolerated.”
When questioned, Santiago allegedly tried to explain away his comments, saying he was drunk and depressed "about everything" at the time he posted them.
The Manhattan resident was arraigned last night in Queens Criminal Court. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison.
St. John's declined to release a statement at this time.
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"When they found out about the incident they notified NYPD," said Dominic Scianna, Assistant VP for Media Relations. "They are cooperating with authorities and they are handling the investigation."
Student Seung-Hui Cho committed suicide after killing 32 students and faculty members in a Virginia Tech dormitory and classroom building on the Blacksburg, Va., campus on April 16, 2007.
