College Student Who Posted Threat To Shoot F****s on Social Media Arrested
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A student at Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida named Sean Michael Albert, 19, was arrested Tuesday after admitting to FBI investigators that he posted a mass shooting threat on the social media platform Discord.
In the post from December 17, 2022, screenshot above, Albert threatened to carry out a mass shooting at Florida State University, Albert was hundreds of miles away from Tallahassee in Washington, D.C., according to the complaint.
Albert was arrested on charges of sending interstate communication of a threat to injure another person.
A criminal complaint filed Jan. 2 by the FBI’s Tampa Field Office alleges the department received a tip on December 16 that an “imminent threat to life” had been posted on the instant messaging and social media platform Discord three days prior by someone using the moniker “BloodStainedSand#0088.”
Along with a photo of an AR-15 rifle and the caption: “600 W College Ave, Tallahassee, FL 32306. At 13:00 December 17, 2022 100 Faggots Will Die, Cya there!”
Albert, who is being held in federal detention in Orlando, told the FBI that the post was “a joke.” He was appointed a federal public defender and found not to have competency issues.
The FBI traced the post to Albert, who attended Full Sail University in Winter Park, and his apartment outside Orlando. Agents learned that instead of traveling to Tallahassee, Albert flew to Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16, and returned to Orlando on New Year’s Day.
He agreed to an interview with the FBI after agents approached him at Orlando International Airport.
“During the interview, Albert was asked why he thought he was being interviewed,” the complaint says. “After providing three possibilities of why the FBI would want to speak with him (none of which involved illegal activity), Albert responded that it was probably because ‘(he) made a post online that may be perceived as a mass shooting threat.’ ”
The complaint says Albert admitted to posting the threat and the photo of the rifle, which he said he got off Reddit.
“Albert was asked to explain his mindset when he posted the threat and whether he understood that posting that type of content is in violation of federal law,” the complaint says. “Albert responded that he did not believe his post was illegal, stating that the post was meant to be ‘ironic,’ ‘satirical’ and ‘a joke.’ ”
The FBI said Albert acknowledged listing the address of a Florida university in the post. He noted that the Discord server where he posted was filled with “extreme controversial ideology and potentially other illegal content,” according to the complaint.
“When asked why he picked that address to include in the threat, Albert stated the reason was because it would be the most reaction from those on the Discord server,” the complaint says.
FBI interviews of Albert’s roommate and apartment manager revealed “a history of violence and a pattern of concerning behavior,” according to court records.
“In particular it is assessed that Albert has rapidly progressed from making controversial statements online, to confrontation with classmates and peers in online spaces, as well as direct confrontation with people outside of his university,” the complaint says.
The FBI investigation also found that Albert previously made statements including “Kill all joggers,” an alleged coded reference to Black people, “Tear gas a synagogue.” He also allegedly posted a slur for gay people, writing “a genocide … NEEDS to happen not even a question.”
