A Utah man who pledged to conduct a mass killing, saying he was Adolf Hitler "reincarnated," was a former military cadet who was discharged for psychological reasons, according to prosecutors.
Luis Ramirez, 23, was charged with one count of making terroristic threats as a hate crime, plus another count of making terroristic threats after reportedly saying he wanted to kill Jews in a series of social media posts, WABC reported.
"THE JEWS KILLED ME IN MY PAST LIFE IF YOU TRY TO KILL ME AGAIN TODAY IN NYC WHEN I PULL UP TO SHABBAT I WILL KILL YOU FIRST." Ramirez wrote in one post, according to the Times of Israel. "I WILL BE VISITING MY BROTHERS AND SISTER IN NYC TOMORROW PULL UP TO SHABBAT AT THE CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE 6 PM,"
"The defendant made terroristic threats that he was Adolf Hitler reincarnated," Assistant District Attorney David Stuart told the court. During the Thursday hearing, Ramirez could be seen grinning.
The 23-year-old previously attended military cadet school in Virginia, however he was discharged for psychological reasons, as reported by the New York Post.
Prosecutors said recorded prison calls revealed Ramirez expressing "being different biblical characters" while he was incarcerated. He was later diagnosed with psychosis and delusions, among other "serious mental health disorders."
Ramirez arrested in February while trying to cross into Manhattan from New Jersey. Authorities said they found no weapons in his vehicle.
The judge directed Ramirez to undergo a psychological exam, and ordered him to be held without bail. He is due back in court March 20.
Originally published on Latin Times
