A man in Michigan exhibited violent intentions against a daycare, aiming to use firearms after making anti-Semitic threats. Federal prosecutors disclosed that Hassan Chokul, 35, attempted to purchase firearms illegally, targeting a Jewish nursery when parents were dropping off their kids in December 2022.
Chokul pleaded guilty to federal weapon charges on May 28. His attorney indicated that Chokul’s gun purchase effort was believed to be part of a larger conspiracy tied to the threats made toward parents and preschoolers at their place of worship.
After his outburst, Chokul traveled to Dearborn, an area with a significant Arab American population, intending to buy three semi-automatic guns. According to the Department of Justice, he falsely claimed on his gun application that he had no felony convictions or pending charges.
In reality, Chokul had a felony theft conviction from 2017 and was facing additional charges related to dangerous weapons. During his background check for the gun purchase, he remarked that “it’s not a fair fight here.” Court documents reveal he even made references to “Brothers in the arena.”
The gun store owner noted that Chokul intended to commit violence in a quest for “God’s Wrath.” A federal check discovered his felony status, leading to the denial of his purchase.
Surveillance footage from the store showed Chokul handling multiple firearms, including a Delton AR-15, a Landor Arms Automatic Shotgun, and a Glock pistol. Prosecutors mentioned he had made statements on social media about his desire to acquire a gun, including a post laden with anti-Semitic remarks.
After his arrest, Chokul reportedly displayed erratic behavior in court, even exposing himself to the judge as a form of protest. He is now facing fines up to $250,000 and a possible prison sentence of up to ten years.
