UIC Student Charged With Threatening To Kill University Of Chicago Students, Staff
UPDATE: 6:12 p.m. Nov. 30, 2015
(CBS) -- A University of Illinois Chicago student has been charged in connection with online threats made against students and staff at the University of Chicago, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
The U.S. attorney's office says 21-year-old Jabari Dean posted a threat on a social media site this weekend to kill 16 students or staff on the campus of the University of Chicago on Monday and that he would then die "killing any number of white policemen that I can in the process," according to the criminal complaint. The threat comes after dashcam video was released showing Laquan McDonald shot by a Chicago Police officer 16 times.
A statement from UIC said that the student was living off campus. A source told the Sun Times investigators searched the students' off campus residence but no gun was found. Prosecutors say Dean didn't have the means to carry out the threat and they don't consider him a danger.
Dean was taken into custody Monday morning without incident. He is charged with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce and appeared in court Monday afternoon. He will appear in bond court on Tuesday afternoon. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Outside of court, Phillip Rutherford uncle says his nephew was just being silly and that he is not a threat.
"He's a wonderful kid, he's just goofy," Rutherford. "He's like the rest of these goofy kids. They just do stupid things and they think there's no ramifications. He's a cream puff. He's not going to do nothing."
The threats prompted the University of Chicago to cancel classes Monday. University President Robert Zimmer said the FBI was investigating an online threat of gun violence against the university, specifically mentioning the "campus quad" at 10 a.m. on Monday. The FBI confirmed that a suspect is in custody and that charges are pending.
Students and faculty were told via email and text to avoid coming to campus, or to stay indoors as much as possible if they are on campus. Students were told to consult csl.uchicago.edu for additional information.
The university said that classes will resume on Tuesday.
A statement from UIC said no threats were made against UIC students or staff, but the university's police have increased patrols.