Racist Threats

⏱ 2 min read

Zachary Charles Newell, a 26-year-old from Newport, North Carolina, made shocking online threats to shoot and skin black preschoolers. On August 27, he posted a disturbing comment on YouTube, stating he would shoot up a black preschool and murder 20 black babies. The FBI quickly identified and arrested Newell, preventing a potential massacre. Newell’s obsession with extremist content on the internet led him to post scores of threatening comments directed at racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.

The FBI and the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Erin C. Blondel prosecuted it. Newell pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 2 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle condemned Newell’s actions, stating that targeting babies for murder based on their skin color is disgusting and unacceptable.

Newell’s case highlights the dangers of online extremism and the importance of swift law enforcement action. The FBI’s prompt response ensured that Newell was detained and removed from the ability to carry out his threats. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to protecting vulnerable communities from hate crimes.

The sentence handed down to Newell serves as a warning to those who would seek to spread hate and violence online. As U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle noted, targeting innocent lives based on their race, ethnicity, or religion is a reprehensible act that will not be tolerated in civilized society.