Alleged OC Killing Spree Threats Lead To Arrest; Weapons Found

ALISO VIEJO, CA — A man who was arrested last week for allegedly making threats toward an instructor at Aliso Viejo's Soka University was scheduled to be arraigned Monday, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. He pleaded not guilty, and will return to court on Nov. 15 for a pretrial hearing. Smith could face up to three years in prison if convicted.

David Kenneth Smith, a 39-year-old Los Angeles resident, was arrested last week and booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, OCSD said. Multiple loaded firearms were found in his home at the time of the arrest.

On Wednesday, Nov. 1, OCSD received reports that a former student of the university engaged in an email exchange with an instructor regarding disciplinary actions against the suspect for marijuana use when he attended Soka University in 2008, OCSD reported.

Smith allegedly made the threats against the university staff member "through bizarre email exchanges and a YouTube channel rant," according to the sheriff's department.

Smith emailed the staff member a link to a YouTube video of himself talking about the university while holding a semi-automatic pistol.

The YouTube channel also included multiple videos recorded in recent days, in which the suspect discussed his desire to engage in a "killing spree," according to an OCSD spokesperson.

"Members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center worked on the case, and in less than 48-hours, Smith was taken into custody.'

Nine loaded firearms, all of which were registered to Smith, were recovered during the arrest, OCSD reported.

"The firearms were loaded when they were confiscated by investigators," OCSD said.

"He is being held on $1 million dollars bail," OCSD said.

OCSD Photos