New Jersey resident Darnell King was arrested in New York after he allegedly threatened a mass shooting at JFK airport, New York City's largest, as his ex-wife returned from abroad.
King, 39, of Paterson, NJ, was charged Thursday with 12 counts including terroristic threats and various weapons and ammunition offenses, the Queens County District Attorney's Office said in a news release. He had his first court appearance on Friday.
According to the complaint, King drove to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday in an effort to meet with his unidentified ex-wife, who was returning from a trip abroad. He previously sent her a text message and a video of her saying he would meet her at the terminal and that this was her “last will and testament,” authorities said.
"It is unknown how many lives were saved by the arrest of this defendant who drove to JFK airport with two loaded guns and threatened to cause a large number of victims."
In the video, King was recorded in his car saying that he is going to “start shooting at the airport” and it would be a day in history that everyone will remember, according to prosecutors. The footage also captured a gun in the passenger seat, according to NJ.com.
After arriving at the airport, King sent his wife another text message and video, saying, “I don't know what makes you think I was lying, I'm here.”
King's first communication with his wife was at 8:27 a.m. on Tuesday. At 11:50 a.m. He was detained by Port Authority (PANYNJ) and New York Police (NYPD) officers near the Resorts World Casino, adjacent to the airport.
Police also recovered two loaded handguns and ammunition during a search of his car, authorities said. “There is no telling how many lives were saved by the arrest of this defendant who drove to JFK Airport with two loaded handguns and threatened mass casualties,” said Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz. “Thanks to the quick actions of our partners at the Port Authority Police Department and the NYPD, this defendant was taken into custody before he could harm anyone.”
King was ordered to return to Queens Criminal Court on May 28. All charges are mere accusations and those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
