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NEW DELHI: A Cornell University student, Patrick Dai, 21, who is studying engineering, has been accused of making violent threats against Jewish students. Federal authorities arrested him after he allegedly posted online threats over the weekend, suggesting harm to Jewish students and mentioning bringing an assault rifle to the campus.
The posts were traced back to Dai’s IP address at his off-campus residence.When confronted, he reportedly admitted to the allegations, as per a federal complaint.
The messages threatened to “stab” and “slit the throat” of any Jewish males he sees on campus, to rape and throw off a cliff any Jewish females, and to behead any Jewish babies, according to the complaint. In that same post, Dai threatened to “bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig jews,” authorities said.
Dai’s academic journey began impressively. He entered Cornell as one of the five National Merit Scholars from Pittsford-Mendon High School. He was also recognized as a 12-time AP Scholar and had volunteered at Rochester General Hospital. At Cornell, he took on roles such as an undergraduate consultant, assisting peers with MATLAB programming, and served as the director of logistics for the school’s Science Olympiad. His LinkedIn profile also mentions his promotion to a supervisory role as an orientation leader after just two months.
However, a significant shift in his demeanor was observed after his first year at Cornell. His parents emphasized that, despite his change in behavior, he had no history of violent tendencies. They recalled how he expressed feeling lost and lacking motivation in life. To address his mental health concerns, he took two semesters off from school in 2022 and 2023 on a doctor’s recommendation. However, his struggles persisted.
The complaint also revealed that Dai suffers from “severe depression” and that his mother was concerned about his suicidal tendencies. She contacted the Cornell police on October 31, 2023, after receiving a text message from him that said “I love you mom. Goodbye.” His father shared the distressing moment when his wife, fearing their son might harm himself, drove to his apartment, only to find police officers outside, indicating Dai’s arrest.
However, Dai’s parents are convinced of their son’s innocence. While the parents are skeptical about their son’s involvement in the antisemitic posts, they believe his depression might be connected to the situation.
Joel Malina, Cornell’s vice president for university relations, said the school was grateful to the FBI for apprehending the suspect. “We remain shocked by and condemn these antisemitic threats and believe they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Malina said in a statement.
Dai now faces charges for posting threats to harm or kill using interstate communications. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Details about his legal representation remain unclear, but he is set to appear in federal court soon.
(With inputs from agencies)
The posts were traced back to Dai’s IP address at his off-campus residence.When confronted, he reportedly admitted to the allegations, as per a federal complaint.
The messages threatened to “stab” and “slit the throat” of any Jewish males he sees on campus, to rape and throw off a cliff any Jewish females, and to behead any Jewish babies, according to the complaint. In that same post, Dai threatened to “bring an assault rifle to campus and shoot all you pig jews,” authorities said.
Dai’s academic journey began impressively. He entered Cornell as one of the five National Merit Scholars from Pittsford-Mendon High School. He was also recognized as a 12-time AP Scholar and had volunteered at Rochester General Hospital. At Cornell, he took on roles such as an undergraduate consultant, assisting peers with MATLAB programming, and served as the director of logistics for the school’s Science Olympiad. His LinkedIn profile also mentions his promotion to a supervisory role as an orientation leader after just two months.
However, a significant shift in his demeanor was observed after his first year at Cornell. His parents emphasized that, despite his change in behavior, he had no history of violent tendencies. They recalled how he expressed feeling lost and lacking motivation in life. To address his mental health concerns, he took two semesters off from school in 2022 and 2023 on a doctor’s recommendation. However, his struggles persisted.
The complaint also revealed that Dai suffers from “severe depression” and that his mother was concerned about his suicidal tendencies. She contacted the Cornell police on October 31, 2023, after receiving a text message from him that said “I love you mom. Goodbye.” His father shared the distressing moment when his wife, fearing their son might harm himself, drove to his apartment, only to find police officers outside, indicating Dai’s arrest.
However, Dai’s parents are convinced of their son’s innocence. While the parents are skeptical about their son’s involvement in the antisemitic posts, they believe his depression might be connected to the situation.
Joel Malina, Cornell’s vice president for university relations, said the school was grateful to the FBI for apprehending the suspect. “We remain shocked by and condemn these antisemitic threats and believe they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Malina said in a statement.
Dai now faces charges for posting threats to harm or kill using interstate communications. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Details about his legal representation remain unclear, but he is set to appear in federal court soon.
(With inputs from agencies)
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