A discharged Marine is facing charges following social media posts he allegedly made where he threatened to kill white people.
Joshua Cobb, 23, was arrested earlier this month and charged with one count of transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says that Cobb first made a threat on Dec. 17, 2022, in a social media post under the handle “NearbyUser101.”
Cobb allegedly wrote in part, “I want to cause mayhem on the white community. The reason I specifically want to target white people is because as a Black male, they will never understand my struggles. Same way I will never understand their struggles, but I don’t care to. I want to erase them. All of them really, but in this case as many as I possibly can.” He claimed that he would carry out an attack in 2023, according to the post.
Authorities say that Cobb made several other social media posts in April and May of 2023 where he discussed hopes of becoming a serial killer.
“Imagine the rush you’d feel while shooting some [expletive] up. Probably could get literally high off the adrenaline alone,” Cobb allegedly wrote.
Another post allegedly stated, “There is no way out for me. The only way out is bloodshed.”
Officials say that Cobb joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2023 and began basic training in June 2023. They say he was stationed in California until his recent discharge.
Cobb allegedly was considering several possible locations for an attack, including a Jersey Strong gym and an Aldi grocery store in Robbinsville.
Cobb’s phone also contained notes on how to bring guns into New Jersey, according to officials.
Cobb faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted of the charges.