A 20-year-old man was arrested after posting messages online, where he threatened to open fire in a Planned Parenthood facility in Washington, D.C.
The arrest of the Tennessee man was announced by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee, and Timothy Slater, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Jacob Cooper, who was arrested on August 21, reportedly went on the internet forum iFunny on August 13, 2019, going by the username “Jacco,” and wrote “Make sure you tell them about how I plan to shoot up a planned parenthood facility in Washington D.C., on August 19th at 3pm,” in response to another user’s comment.
On the same day, Cooper posted another message, saying “If you are a member of the FBI, CIA, whatever, and are on my profile I will trace your IP address and kill you if the opportunity arises. And I am dead serious about this. I’ll do it with ricin, a bomb, or .308. Whatever it takes, then end result will be the same. I am serious about this. If I am personally contacted by any federal agents, I will do this. I will kill you. Again, I am serious. Sic semper tyrannis.”
The Latin phrase “Sic semper tyrannis” means “Thus always to tyrants,” the full version of which translates to “Thus always I bring death to tyrants.” It was used by John Wilkes Booth in his diary as he explained he shouted the sentence when he killed President Abraham Lincoln.
Timothy James McVeigh, who was behind the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that claimed 168 lives and injured hundreds, was wearing a shirt with the same phrase on it during his arrest.
Cooper appeared in court on August 21 and his next hearing was scheduled for August 26. He is facing up to five years in prison, if he is convicted.
Four more men were arrested for threatening or vandalizing Planned Parenthood clinics over the past month, according to DCist.