TUCSON, ARIZONA: Michael Pengchung Lee, a 27-year-old self-described "former incel" has been facing criminal charges after threatening to cause "mass tragedy" at the University of Arizona, days before the deadly shooting in Maine.
Lee, who is not affiliated with the university, was arrested on Monday, October 23, and was later charged with “transmit[ing] in interstate commerce a communication of a threat to injure the person of another.”
Lee’s arrest came just a day after he made the grave threats in a Snapchat group chat, under the screenname “asianluluu,” according to a federal complaint filed this week.
His threats were directed towards campus Greek life campus Greek life, warning that there would be a “mass tragedy and atrocity,” at the college, according to NY Post.
What did Michael Penchung Lee say in his messages?
“The day of Retribution is upon us, I shall get revenge on all the chads and stacies!!” Lee, who is reportedly not affiliated in any way with UofA, wrote in a group chat last Sunday.
The FBI believes “the Day of Retribution” is tied to Elliot Rodger’s 2014 killing spree during which he shot and killed six people, including members of Greek life, near UC Santa Barbara’s campus before turning the gun on himself.
Lee hadn’t chosen a date yet for the assault but knew he wanted to go after “Chads” and “Stacies,” incel-speak for attractive, popular young men and women.
The complaint further states that when Lee saw women screenshot his messages, he then wrote “f**k you stacies I was gonna give you a warning but now im not.”
According to federal authorities, he had not yet obtained a firearm, but he allegedly intended to carry out the atrocity with an AR-15.
“It’s a solo mission, I’m not normal, I never have been, I’m severely autistic and mentally ill and was never accepted by society,” Lee also allegedly wrote, adding “I have no place in the world.”
At the conclusion of the chat, Lee said that he would carry out the mass shooting and that "there's nothing u can do or say to stop me."
After being taken into custody, Lee confessed to the authorities that he was upset with his family situation and was venting to his friends in the group chat.
“He stated he was a former member of the incel community but was no longer,” the document stated, adding “He attempted to purchase a firearm two months ago but decided against it.”
He was booked on a state charge of making a terroristic threat before he was charged federally with making the online threats.
Maine Mass shooting
Lee’s arrest came just two days before a shooter fatally shot at least 22 people and injured 60 others at separate locations during a rampage in Maine at around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25.
Maine law enforcement later identified the possible suspect as the 40-year-old Robert Card who is believed to be an Army reservist and firearms instructor from Bowdoin.
He was allegedly driving a 2013 white Subaru, which was later found in Lisbon, about seven miles southeast of Lewiston, Eric Samson, Sheriff of Androscoggin County, announced at 11:20 pm.
Card, who was admitted to a mental health facility in the summer of 2023, has been forewarned by authorities to be regarded as "armed and dangerous."
“If people see him, they should not approach Card or make contact with him in any way,” Maine Public Safety Commissioner Mike Sauschuck told reporters at a news conference.
