Daytona Beach, FL - A 45-year-old Daytona Beach man is in the Volusia County Jail after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement alerted the Volusia Sheriff's Office after finding threats to commit mass murder posted on YouTube. Leo Arong, Jr. is charged with making written threats, including one that said he wanted to "murder as many people as he can."
The threats made are ugly. They were posted on YouTube during a PBS News Hour live video. They 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”
“I should have been aborted at birth, to save this country from my coming mass killings of American. Thank you”
“I don’t want Red Flag laws passed because the FBI might raid my residence and confiscate the weapons I will use to kill other Americans. Thank you”
“I hate myself. I am uglier than the El Paso shooter, and girls don’t like me, so I will murder as many people as I can. Thank you”
Sheriff's detectives, FDLE and Daytona Beach police interviewed Arong's neighbors at the apartment complex he lived in on Beville Road. Neighbors reported they had not seen Arong in a couple of weeks. He was finally found in his home and interviewed about the electronic threats. Arong admitted to making the posts but said he didn't mean what he wrote. He said he was trying to spoof another user.
A search warrant was executed which included Arong's cell phone and laptop. No guns were found in his home.
Arong is charged with a second-degree felony of making written threats to kill or harm in a mass shooting or act of terrorism. He is being held with no bond allowed.
During the investigation, detectives established that Arong, who is U.S. Army veteran, could be in need of veterans services. There have been recent concerns for his well-being.
