‘Get ready.’ Palo Alto man charged with threatening to shoot up offices of elected officials

PALO ALTO – Authorities on Wednesday arrested a 22-year-old Palo Alto man on suspicion of threatening to shoot up the offices of a U.S. congresswoman and a Florida state representative.

On Feb. 15, Aaditya Chand used an Instagram account to send direct messages to the congresswoman, allegedly stating “I’m gonna shoot up ur office tomorrow u Palestinian scum” and “get ready,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.

The messages were received by the congresswoman’s staff in Washington, D.C.

The representative also received a message from Chand, which allegedly stated “I’m gonna bring a gun to ur office tomorrow and shoot u and ur staff,” authorities said. Federal agents purportedly viewed the message during an interview with Chand.

Unsealed on Wednesday, a criminal complaint charges Chand with transmitting in interstate or foreign commerce a communication containing a threat to injure a person.

If convicted, Chand faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.