New York City authorities are examining social media accounts to determine the motive behind stopping a Queens man with a weapon kit and an NYPD uniform a few blocks from LaGuardia International Airport.
Judd Sanson, 27, was arrested Wednesday on multiple illegal weapons charges. Police said a 9mm Glock handgun, nine loaded magazines, 179 rounds of ammunition, a heavy-duty bulletproof vest, handcuffs, a stun gun, several knives, a makeshift sword, a weighted whip, a retractable baton and two axes were seized.
Police also found a Guy Fawkes mask, sometimes used as an anti-government symbol, an orange MTA vest, and an NYPD bulletproof vest.
Sansone’s attorney, Thomas Montera of Queens Defenders, said at Sansone’s arraignment Thursday that this is “at the end of the day a gun case.” New York Post However, his client was sent to Rikers Island without bail.
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Judd Sansone was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Thursday. He was being held without bail on Rikers Island. (Sean Inglima/Pool)
District Attorney Dylan Nesculik said police “averted what could have been a catastrophe for Queens, New York City and the nation” when they arrested Sansone for illegally blacking out his license plates.
Nestralic said investigators found “disturbing photos” on the man’s Facebook page, but did not provide details.
“We’re calling for a social media investigation,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz told reporters Thursday. “We’re going to look at what he said on social media. We’re going to look at the computer. We’re going to actually look at what his intentions were.”
“When someone is driving around with 11 different weapons, a ton of ammunition, threatening language written on a baton and a uniform that can be used on the subway or almost any public transport system, there is reason to be concerned.”
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Officers stopped the vehicle in Queens and seized a 9mm Glock handgun, nine loaded magazines, a heavy-duty bulletproof vest, handcuffs, an NYPD uniform, two axes, several knives, a weighted whip and a retractable baton. (NYPD News)
“lots of [the weapons were] “It was a makeshift thing, and he built it, so there’s some thought put into it. … It’s not just throwing a weapon in a car,” Katz added.
Katz also noted the poignant words inscribed on the baton that Sanson retrieved: “You gave me no choice, I’m sorry, you [sic] The inscription is said to read, “Learn today” and, in Arabic, “God forgive me.”
“At this time there are no terrorism charges, but we are continuing to investigate, especially given the language used,” Katz said. “We are now charging him with possession of a firearm and intent to use a firearm. We will continue to investigate his mental state to ensure his safety.”
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The suspect, Judd Sanson, 27, was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, nine counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, four counts of unlawful possession of an ammunition feeding device and one count of concealed license plate. (Fox News)
Katz declined to comment on Sanson’s social media posts but said a search warrant had been executed at the suspect’s father’s home and that a weapons safe with a serial number that did not match any of the guns police found in the vehicle was located.
“As a result of the search, there are weapons that have yet to be found,” she said.
Katz also said she and her office were not aware that Sansone had a gun permit.
Michael Balboni, a former adviser to the New York Department of Homeland Security, explained the process for investigating potential terrorists on social media to Fox News Digital.
“They will be accessing his social media accounts and looking at who he has been in contact with,” Balboni said. “Various groups have already been identified that are targeting transportation networks. They will be looking at whether he has been in contact with those individuals.”
“They will also look to see if there is a plan – verbal, sketched or diagrammatic – of how they will get to a secure terminal. [the airport].
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“[They] There’s a lot we want to know, not just who he’s in contact with, but whether he’s had any training, whether he’s been to a shooting range, whether he’s ever been arrested for incendiary devices, explosives or firearms. [they] I want to know [they] A profile can be created to see if this person has a violent past or violent motives.
“This makes it very clear that he’s not just going to the mall to shop, but is actually out to do something bad. That’s a valid point,” Balboni added. “But let the facts guide you. Don’t prejudge. Everyone has a right to be tried by a jury of their peers. … You can’t just assume this guy’s a terrorist.”
The FBI declined to comment on whether it was involved in the investigation, and Fox New Digital did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Department of Homeland Security.
Fox News Digital’s Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
