South Carolina man charged after posting online threats of mass violence

A South Carolina man was arrested after investigators said he posted online threats of a mass shooting and violence against the Jewish community, according to federal prosecutors.

The arrest was announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. Investigators said they were alerted to a YouTube account that posted increasingly violent threats over several months, culminating in a post stating, “I’m going to commit a mass shooting.”

The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Lucas Brandon Rousso of Easley, South Carolina, according to prosecutors.

Investigators said the YouTube account was traced to an IP address, email address, and device belonging to Rousso. When interviewed by law enforcement, Rousso admitted that he posted the comments to YouTube.

Rousso made his initial court appearance on Wednesday, according to court records. A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday.

If convicted, Rousso faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, prosecutors said.

Easley is a city in northwestern South Carolina, located in Pickens County near the North Carolina border. It is part of the Greenville metropolitan area, which serves as a regional hub for the Upstate portion of the state.