Daniel Larson, a 25-year-old man from Boulder, Colorado, has been arrested for making threats on social media to use explosives to destroy various public places, including the University of Colorado and the White House. Larson, who is known on TikTok and other social media platforms, was indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of use or threatened use of explosives and interstate communication of threats. A warrant for his arrest was issued on April 25.
The U.S. District Court indictment states that the offenses occurred in Denver, Boulder, and Jefferson counties. On July 3, Larson allegedly made a threat to unlawfully damage and destroy a county courthouse in Colorado using explosives. On August 7, he threatened to damage and destroy the White House with explosive devices. On September 26, he threatened to damage and destroy a state government building in Colorado with explosives. Additionally, on December 25, Larson reportedly threatened to injure a specific FBI special agent.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Norman Reid Neureiter signed a detention order denying Larson’s request for release from custody on May 9. Neureiter cited the severity of the charges and the potential public harm caused by Larson’s threats as reasons for denying the request. “The defendant is charged with multiple counts resulting from threats to bomb public places, including a Colorado courthouse, the University of Colorado campus, a non-profit center in Lakewood, Colorado, and the White House. He also threatened an FBI agent and threatened to bomb the FBI headquarters,” Neureiter wrote in the detention order. “These threats were widely transmitted publicly via the internet, usually on videos, via apps such as TikTok or YouTube.”
Neureiter also noted that Larson appears to have mental health issues, has been homeless for years, and is unemployed with no stable place to live. Despite these circumstances, Neureiter emphasized that the threats made by Larson caused significant public harm and prompted a substantial law enforcement response. “Although it is not clear whether Mr. Larson intended to actually act on his threats, a threat to bomb a public building or courthouse or university campus causes significant public harm; people are terrorized by such threats, and it usually prompts a significant law enforcement response,” Neureiter stated.
Larson had been contacted repeatedly by the FBI and admitted to making the threats but ignored requests from FBI agents to stop. Neureiter mentioned that Larson’s conduct appeared to be escalating, including recent statements that he had been to jail and learned how to make a bomb. Larson has four prior warrants for failure to appear and has had his probation revoked in several state court matters. Based on these facts, Neureiter concluded that no condition would reasonably assure the safety of the community or that Larson would appear at trial as required. Consequently, Larson was committed to the custody of the Attorney General or his designated representative for confinement in a corrections facility.
In a video recording, Larson discussed his legal situation with a friend named Clark. Larson mentioned that he was waiting for the district attorney to come up with a plea deal, which he believed would likely involve reinstating his probation for another year. Larson expressed hope that the time he had already served would be added to his sentence. Clark and Larson also discussed Larson’s mental health, his concerns about his girlfriend Grace, and his plans for the future once he is released from custody.
Larson’s case has garnered attention on social media, with many people expressing concern for his well-being and the potential danger posed by his threats. Despite the serious nature of the charges against him, Larson’s supporters are hopeful that he will receive the help he needs to address his mental health issues and reintegrate into society.
Source: U.S. District Court, TikTok, YouTube
