Florida man arrested for threats to kill Jews, minorities

Convicted felon used alias on social media, praised Poway synagogue killer

A Florida man was arrested for threatening to kill minorities, including Jews.

Joshua John Leff, 40, was arrested Friday at his home in Fort Myers and charged with intimidation, sending written threats to kill and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

He made the threats on social media sites Bitchute and Gab, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in a statement. The department began its investigation after receiving a tip about Leff’s statements and videos inciting violence against minority groups including blacks, Jews, and gays.

Guns and ammunition were found at his home during a police search.

John T. Earnest appears for his arraignment hearing on April 30, 2019, in San Diego facing charges of murder and attempted murder in the April 27 assault on the Chabad of Poway synagogue, which killed one woman and injured three people. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/San Diego Union-Tribune via AP, Pool)

Leff used an alias to make his postings Bitchute and Gab, which are known for being used by white supremacists, NBC2 television reported.

In his posts, he praised several mass shooters, including John T. Earnest, the 19-year-old gunman accused of killing one and injuring three inside a synagogue in Poway, California in April. He said he wished they had killed more people.

He is being held in Lee County Jail on $1 million bond.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report