LI Man Charged With Terroristic Threat After 'Shoot Up A Synagogue' Tweet

AQUEBOGUE, NY — An Aquebogue man accused of making terroristic threats against the Jewish community in Manhattan was indicted Wednesday.

Christopher Brown, 21, as well as Matthew Mahrer, 22, were both arrested at Penn Station on Nov. 18. MTA police recovered a knife, a Swastika armband and a ski mask from Brown's backpack, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. A backpack containing a gun, extended magazine and 19 rounds of ammunition was recovered from Mahrer's apartment, prosecutors said.

Both Brown and Mahrer were charged in a New York Supreme Court indictment with a count of fourth-degree conspiracy, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and a count of criminal possession of a firearm, Bragg said. All are felonies.

Brown was also charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon as a crime of terrorism, a count of making a terroristic threat, a count of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime — all felonies — and a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

On Nov. 18, Brown posted several threatening Twitter posts, including the words: “Gonna ask a Priest if I should become a husband or shoot up a synagogue and die,” and ‘This time I’m really gonna do it," the DA said.

Brown is accused of paying Mahrer $650 to obtain a gun in Pennsylvania, which was eventually recovered in the backpack at Mahrer's apartment, prosecutors said.

“A horrific tragedy was averted thanks to the diligence, hard work and coordination between my Office and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners. The increase in antisemitic attacks and threats cannot and will not be tolerated. Manhattanites and all New Yorkers should know that we continue to vigorously prosecute hate crimes every day and are using every tool at our disposal to address hate and bias,” said Bragg.

“Protecting all New Yorkers is paramount, and this case illustrates the NYPD’s continued commitment to fight terrorism and hate in every form,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “We will never tolerate hate in our city, and we vow to hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety and security of our diverse population.”

In November, Brown, who was armed, was one of two arrested at Penn Station in relation to a "developing threat" to New York City's Jewish community, Sewell said in a statement.

The men were arrested by MTA police officers following an investigation by the FBI/NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force and NYPD Counterterrorism and Intelligence Bureau investigators.

After a threat to the city's Jewish community, investigators "moved swiftly to gather information, identify those behind it, and operationally neutralize their ability to do harm," Sewell said.

During the arrest, police seized a large hunting knife, an illegal Glock 17 gun, a 30-round magazine, and several other items, officials said.

Authorities did not immediately disclose if a specific person or synagogue was targeted.
The investigation into the threat is ongoing, police said.

Attacks against Jewish institutions, including Jewish community centers and synagogues, were up by 61 percent in 2021, according to the report.

In July, police commenced an investigation after antisemitic fliers were found on the lawns of multiple homes in Rockville Centre and Oceanside.