‘Former incel’ arrested for threatening mass shooting at University of Arizona
By Carl Samson
A man who describes himself as a “former incel” is facing federal charges after allegedly sending threats to commit a mass shooting at the University of Arizona.
Allegations: Michael Pengchung Lee, 27, made the threats in a group chat on Snapchat, according to a criminal complaint filed on Tuesday. He allegedly wrote that a “mass tragedy and atrocity” will soon take place at the university in the form of a “mass shooting” using “an AR-15.”
The Tucson resident allegedly declared that the “day of Retribution is upon us,” vowing revenge against “all the chads and stacies.” Investigators have linked the “day of retribution” to mass shooter Elliot Rodger, who killed fraternity and sorority members in 2014, and “Chads” and “Stacies” to incel ideology.
Lee, who is not a student at the university, went on to claim that he is “severely autistic and mentally ill and was never accepted by society,” the complaint noted. He allegedly concluded his messages by writing, “im gonna do it guys, my mind is made up and there’s nothing u can do or say to stop me.”
Arrest: Lee was arrested during a traffic stop for speeding on Monday. He subsequently admitted to writing the Snapchat threats, according to the complaint.
Previous arrest: Investigators said Lee was previously arrested for possessing controlled substances and a firearm in a storage facility he had rented. The controlled substance charges are pending.
University’s response: Following Lee’s arrest, University of Arizona Interim Vice President and Chief Safety Officer Steve Patterson issued a letter assuring safety in the academic community. “There is no current or pending threat to the University community from this individual and no other individuals are being sought,” he wrote.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 3.
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