Man Encouraged Bombing Harvard, Shooting Black Commencement: DOJ

CAMBRIDGE, MA — An Arizona man was arrested Friday night in connection to online threats advocating for the bombing of Harvard and shooting of the school's Black Commencement even held last spring, the Department of Justice said. Nicholas Zuckerman, 24, was indicted on two counts of transmitting in interstate and foreign commerce a threat to injure the person of another. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

On May 13, Zuckerman allegedly commented on an Instagram post published by Harvard, saying, "If the blacks only ceremony happens, then I encourage violence and death at it. I’m thinking two automatics with extendo clips. Just so no [racial expletive] gets away.” That same day, he allegedly commented on another Harvard Instagram post, "#bombharvard and end their pro-black agenda.” He is alleged to have posted #bombharvard to other users' posts approximately 11 more times in four minutes.

Someone who saw the posts reported them to Harvard Police, who referred the case to federal authorities.

Each charge's maximum sentence is five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

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