LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles area man who took to social media to threaten a mass shooting if Vice President Joe Biden wins the presidential election has been taken into custody, law enforcement sources confirmed to The Times.
The man was handcuffed by members of a task force led by federal and local law enforcement agencies and detained inside a vehicle Friday. Investigators were searching his home for evidence of any means he has to carry out any form of attack, the sources said.
"The FBI is aware of the reported threats, and we're working with our partners," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said in a statement. Federal officials declined to comment further.
Sources familiar with the investigation but not authorized to discuss it said investigators may use a mental health hold to detain the man. The suspect was detained by a team known as CT 6, a counterterrorism unit that chases potential domestic terror threat tips. The unit often discovers people connected to potential threats who need mental health treatment.
In a video posted to Instagram, the man says, "If Biden gets in, I'm just going to do like a school shooter, just take out all these Democrats."
The move comes after Philadelphia police arrested two men who got out of a silver Hummer near the convention center armed with firearms but without permits. Each was carrying a firearm, and another man was found inside the vehicle. Authorities had received a tip about a potential threat at the convention center where the presidential election count is ongoing.
