ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A northern Virginia man has been charged with making racist threats directed at historically black Howard University in 2015.
Twenty-six-year-old John Edgar Rust of Alexandria was charged in federal court Wednesday with transmitting threats over the internet.
According to an FBI affidavit, Rust posted his threat to a chat board in November 2015. He concluded by saying “After all, it’s not murder if they’re black.”
The affidavit states investigators traced the threat to a Panera restaurant in Alexandria. Agents determined Rust’s computer was connected to the restaurant’s Wi-Fi network. The affidavit shows investigators quickly honed in on Rust, but the investigation required detailed computer forensics to bring charges.
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Rust is scheduled to make an initial appearance Thursday. Court records do not list an attorney.