PALO ALTO – Authorities on Wednesday arrested a 22-year-old Palo Alto man on suspicion of threatening to shoot up the offices of a U.S. congresswoman and a Florida state representative.
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On Feb. 15, Aaditya Chand used an Instagram account to send direct messages to the congresswoman, allegedly stating “I’m gonna shoot up ur office tomorrow u Palestinian scum” and “get ready,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
The messages were received by the congresswoman’s staff in Washington, D.C.
The representative also received a message from Chand, which allegedly stated “I’m gonna bring a gun to ur office tomorrow and shoot u and ur staff,” authorities said. Federal agents purportedly viewed the message during an interview with Chand.
Unsealed on Wednesday, a criminal complaint charges Chand with transmitting in interstate or foreign commerce a communication containing a threat to injure a person.
If convicted, Chand faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.