Florida Man Arrested for Alleged Threats Against Orthodox Jewish Community
Authorities apprehended Jerry Sneed after he posted threatening messages and images of a firearm online targeting a new housing development.
A Florida man, Jerry Sneed, has been arrested for allegedly making online threats to shoot up a newly opened Orthodox Jewish community in Glades County. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) took Sneed into custody on Wednesday.
Sneed, 31, was charged with "written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, and unlawful use of a two-way communication device." According to the FDLE, Sneed posted photos on social media that showed a firearm alongside the location of Lakefront Estates, accompanied by threatening messages.
Yidel Perlstein, CEO of Lakefront Estates, praised the swift action by law enforcement. "He's behind bars, and hopefully that’s a lesson to everyone that you don’t need to wait until it escalates, they immediately acted. They caught him,” Perlstein stated. The community was intended as a sanctuary for Orthodox Jews seeking to relocate from New York due to rising antisemitism.
Earlier this year, the Lakefront Estates community faced similar hostility when individuals identified as Jake Lang and Jeffrey Walstein reportedly visited the town in October, displaying anti-Jewish rhetoric. One resident, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, told The Post that antisemitism has become palpable, even impacting communities like Borough Park in New York.