Following the arrest of a 19-year-old male for making credible threats against Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summit in July, the organization has released a statement expressing gratitude towards their security team.
"TPUSA was made aware of the potential threat against the organization prior to the start of the Student Action Summit, and our organization fully cooperated with local and federal law enforcement, both in Tampa Bay and San Antonio," Turning Point USA said in an official statement.
"In short, we were extremely confident that every precaution had been taken. Turning Point USA employs extensive security measures both prior and during its events, and its default position is one of threat assessment, deterrence, and resolution. We are grateful for the tireless work of our security team, whose expertise and constant vigilance is the absolute best in the country," the statement continued.
Alejandro Richard Velasquez Gomez of San Antonio, Texas has been arrested for making "credible threats" against the organization’s event, which took place from Jully 22 to July 24 in Tampa, Florida, according to Fox News.
A criminal complaint filed in federal court in San Antonio reportedly stated that FBI Phoenix had alerted FBI San Antonio of Gomez’s concerning activities on social media.
The teen, who went by LatinoZoomer or MestizoZoomer, allegedly shared a warning to his Instagram on July 18 that the first day of the summit would be "the day of retribution."
"I will have revenge against all of humanity, which all of you will pay for my suffering. SAS will be the turning point of the LatinoZoomer lore," Gomez wrote, according to the complaint cited by Fox News.
Gomez had reportedly purchased a plane ticket that would depart from Austin on July 22, with the final destination being Tampa, but according to Fox News, he cancelled the ticket the night before the flight. This, in combination with the messages posted to social media, amounted to a credible threat, the complaint reportedly states.
Gomez reportedly admitted to an FBI agent that the July 18 post was intended to evoke the case of 22-year-old Elliot Rogers, who killed six students and injured more than a dozen others at University of California, Santa Barbara in 2014 during a rampage that involved stabbing, shooting, and mowing down students with his car.
On July 21, Tampa police obtained an arrest warrant and charged Gomez with sending written or electronic threats to kill, injure or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, a second-degree felony. He was arrested on July 22.
The teen was also charged with possession of child pornography after the FBI discovered images on his phone that was seized.
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