Louis Shenker, 22, Surrenders To Police After 'Hoax Device' Left Outside Queens Place Mall
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Massachusetts man has surrendered to police after authorities found a "hoax device" in a car at the Queens Place Mall on Monday morning.
Louis Shenker smirked at cameras as he was lead out the 71st Precinct in handcuffs on Tuesday. The 22-year-old looked unbothered by accusations that he built a fake bomb, triggering an hours-long scare, CBS2's Christina Fan reported.
MORE: Police Give All Clear After Queens Place Mall Evacuated Due To 'Hoax Device'
When asked if he had anything to say, Shenker said, "I have no fear ... The messiah is coming."
Police believe Shenker abandoned a stolen Tesla with Nevada plates near the mall's entrance, rigging it with electrical wires and a metal canister.
Taking no chances, police evacuated the area, searched the car, and found no explosives, discovering instead a dog that had been locked inside.
Investigators believe Shenker was working with an accomplice, but that person is still at large.
Investigators called the device a hoax, but Shenker denied it was meant to look like a bomb.
"It was a Tesla car being charged. You guys are [expletive] idiots. It was literally a car being charged because the battery died. You guys are morons," Shenker said.
Police sources told Fan the NYPD is familiar with Shenker and that he is not of sound mind.
His social media pages indicate he is a far-right activist. He was also arrested a few days ago for lighting posters on fire near Gracie Mansion.
Police said the car involved in Monday's scare had a Black Lives Matter sign, raising suspicions the suspect might have purposely placed it there to discredit the movement.
Sources also said Shenker was captured on video near the location the hoax device was found.
He has been charged with planting a false bomb, criminal possession of stolen property, and abandonment of an animal.
CBS2's Christina Fan contributed to this report
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