Tucson Sun casino patron arrested over mass shooting threat
A disgruntled casino patron was detained Friday after allegedly threatening a mass shooting at the Casino del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.
Michael McLernon told tribal police he did not recall threatening to drive a truck and shoot in front of the casino. However, he admitted it was possible because he was upset about how he was treated at the casino when he was last arrested. The nature of the arrest was not specified in court documents.
According to federal court documents filed Friday, McClernon is charged with knowingly and knowingly threatening to injure another person by telephone. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.
On Sept. 27, prosecutors said, McClernon called the Casino del Sol, which is owned and operated by the Pascua Yaqui tribe. When he made the threat, he revealed his identity to Officer Paskayaki, documents show.
Hidden in plain sight
McClernon was not immediately arrested because his whereabouts were unknown. He was denied entry to the casino and staff posted his photo inside the casino. But he appears to have been at the casino's RV park starting around Nov. 16.
On November 30, he contacted an employee to inquire about extending his stay. The employee recognized him and contacted Pascua Yaqui police.
McClernon faces federal charges because the FBI has special jurisdiction to investigate serious crimes committed on most tribal reservations. His alleged conduct violated 18 U.S.C. § 875(c):
"Any person who transmits in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing a threat to kidnap any person or a threat to injure another person shall be punished under this title by a fine or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or by both."
Casino Threat
Prosecutors take threats to attack casinos extremely seriously, even if they turn out to be hoaxes or the threats were made in jest.
In February 2022, a man was arrested outside STRAT in Las Vegas, claiming he was going to "blow up the building" because he "had a grenade in his ass and wanted to fart." He was charged with making terrorist threats. No such combustion device was found during a subsequent search of the cavity.
It turns out that two bomb threats in April 2021 in Horseshoe Bossier City, Louisiana came from a casino security guard. He was charged with two counts of providing false information about a planned arson.
In May of that year, a woman who was distraught over losing $380 on a slot machine was charged with a felony after reporting a bomb threat to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa.
Read also:
- Football 101: What is relegation in football?
- Lassos Rodeo National Finals Returns for 10th Year in Las Vegas
- DraftKings CEO Robbins says iGaming can lead sports betting
- San Jose illegal casino raid leads to 10 arrests
Source: www.casino.org
