Black New Jersey Marine arrested after threatening to target white people in mass shooting

A New Jersey Marine has been arrested after he allegedly threatened on social media to kill white people and had reportedly been planning a mass shooting. 

23-year-old Joshua Cobb, of Trenton, was arrested on May 10 by the FBI and charged with transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce, according to the US Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey. 

Cobb allegedly threatened on social media to "cause mayhem on the white community" and expressed hopes of becoming a serial killer. His phone also contained notes describing how to bring weapons into New Jersey. 

In a December 17, 2022, post, Cobb wrote, "I want to cause mayhem on the white community. The reason i specifically want to target white people is because as a black male, they will NEVER understand my struggles. Same way I will never understand their struggles, but I don’t care to. I want to erase them. All of them really, but in this case as many as I possibly can." 

"As of today I have officially began planning my attack," the post continued. "It is going to take place in 2023 in the state of New Jersey, I have not chosen a exact date but I am going to be sure it is close to an important holiday to their race. I have a location in mind already which I have frequented for the past year and I am certain nobody there is armed to be able to stop me from spraying them to the ground. I have already acquired 2 of the 4 firearms I plan to use for my attack, and I also know my entry and exit points already after the mayhem." 

Cobb made additional posts in April and May of 2023, writing in one, "Imagine the rush you’d feel while shooting some sh*t up. Probably could get literally high off the adrenaline alone. I’d probably OD on my own adrenaline after the 10th body goes down." 

"Tbh I hope I do progress into a serial killer because I f*cking hate life man... But one day everyone will suffer. I promise I will make everyone feel my f*ucking pain. My deep, sincere, raw, & sharp pain," another post stated. 

Cobb also wrote that "the only way out is bloodshed," adding that he was "leaving evidence for whoever investigates my case." 

Cobb joined the Marines in 2023 and began basic training in June of that year. He was stationed in California until he was recently discharged. 

Cobb admitted to law enforcement that he had written the social media posts and provided locations he was considering for his attack, which included a Jersey Strong gym and an Aldi grocery store in Robbinsville, New Jersey.  

Authorities also discovered during a search of Cobb’s phone additional notes from April and May 2023 of Cobb expressing homicidal ideations. 

"It’s all a f*cking game and you all are going to die. I currently lack the means necessary to kill as many as I intend to but one day I will have the available resources (finance) to purchase the appropriate weaponry for my killing(s)," one note stated. 

Another said, "All my life I have been doubyed (sic) … Ive been taken as the joke… ive been f*cked around with… well now its my turn. I am going to kill one of you mother*ckers I f*cking hate humanity. All of you f*cking duck and I don’t give a single f*ck about any of you though I may appear I do." "Im ready to grt (sic) to the good part of my story where I start taking you mother f*ckers out and killing you all… My rampage will soon happen… I plan to now continue accumulating the necessary equipment needed to execute. Once all equipment is in, time will then tell. You will all die." (sic) 

"I hate all of this sh*t and I feel like my only way out of the pain and suffering is by exploding. So I await… I await that moment so I can make those moments final. For whomever… myself or a victim." 
 
Cobb faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the charges and a $250,000 fine.