Utah man accused of threatening to shoot up NYC synagogues arrested entering Lincoln Tunnel: cops
A Utah man who allegedly threatened to shoot up New York City synagogues in a series of social media posts was arrested as he tried to cross into Manhattan via the Lincoln Tunnel Friday night, according to police and sources.
Luis Ramirez, 23, was taken into custody around 5:30 p.m. by Port Authority cops in New Jersey after authorities were alerted to a rash of antisemitic posts he allegedly made on his X account, the NYPD and sources said.
In one post, Ramirez cited Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, police said.
The NYPD was made aware Ramirez was traveling to the Big Apple from out of state and Port Authority police was able to nab him before he made it to Manhattan, police said.
The Community Security Initiative, a joint program run by the UJA-Federation and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York to bolster security for Jewish institutions, flagged the threats and worked with law enforcement to notify synagogues across the city, sources said.
Ramirez, who has no criminal record, was allegedly found in possession of a firearm when he was stopped earlier on the road trip in Kansas City, ABC News reported, citing police sources.
He had no weapons in his car when he was stopped outside the Lincoln Tunnel on Friday night, sources said.
No charges have been filed as the investigation is ongoing, police said.
Ramirez is being held at Hudson County Correctional Center in Kearny, sources said.
He is expected to be arraigned Saturday.
