A New Jersey resident is facing charges in New York after he allegedly threatened a mass shooting at New York City’s largest airport as his estranged wife was returning from a flight.
Darnell King, 39, of Paterson, was charged in a 12-count complaint on Thursday, which included terroristic threats, menacing and various offenses related to weapons and ammunition, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release. He had his initial court appearance on Friday and was released.
King drove to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday in an effort to meet with his estranged wife, who was returning from an overseas flight. He texted her and sent her a video saying that he was meeting her at the airport and that this was his “last will and testament,” authorities said.
In the video, King is seen in his car saying that he is going to “start shooting up the airport” and it will be a day in history that everyone will remember, according to prosecutors. A gun can also be seen on the passenger seat in the video, officials said.
After arriving at the airport, King sent his wife another text message and video, saying ““I don’t know what makes you think that I was lying, I am here.”
King’s first communication with his wife was at 8:27 a.m. At 11:50 a.m., he was apprehended by Port Authority and NYPD officers near Resorts World Casino, which is adjacent to the airport.
Police also recovered two loaded handguns and ammunition during a search of his car, authorities said.
“There is no telling just how many lives were saved with the apprehension of this defendant who drove to JFK Airport with two loaded handguns and threatened a mass casualty event,” Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz said. “Thanks to the swift actions of our partners at the Port Authority Police Department and the NYPD, this defendant was apprehended before he could harm anyone.”
King has been ordered to return to return to Queens County Criminal Court on May 28.
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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached atnfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
