A 26-year-old Alexandria, Virginia man is facing five years in prison if he is convicted of threatening online to murder black people at Howard University.
Court documents show that John Edgar Rust used the Wi-Fi at a Panera restaurant to post the threat to two separate online message boards on November 11, 2015.
The FBI affidavit showed that among the other things he said was, “after all, it’s not murder if they’re black.”
Investigators were able to determine that Rust’s computer was connected to Panera’s Wi-Fi network. He also made a charge to his credit card at the restaurant that day.
This is not the first time Rust has faced charges. He is a convicted felon according to the Department of Justice.
The Virginia Sex Offender Registry lists a man of the same name and the same age as having been convicted of indecent liberties with a child by a custodian as well as aggravated sexual battery against a minor.
His next court date is October 5 at 2 pm. If he is convicted, Rust will be sentenced by a federal court judge.