A Texas man is facing federal charges after being accused of uploading a video in which he threatened the lives of Black Lives Matter protesters.
Manuel Flores, 42, of El Paso, Texas, was arrested Monday and charged with one count of transmitting threatening communications, according to a Wednesday press release from the Justice Department. According to investigators, Flores uploaded a video to YouTube titled “[N-word] Lives Matter,” in which he made a number of threatening comments.
“During the video, the defendant is seated visible only from the knees down with what appears to be an AR-15 style rifle resting on the defendant’s feet,” the press release read. “Flores stated that he would be travelling on I-20 Eastbound through Dallas on Monday while daring individuals representing Black Lives Matter to ‘stop him.’”
Flores also allegedly said that his “dream” was to kill at least 200 people, using a racial slur to describe the people he wanted to kill.
When confronted by FBI investigators about the video, Flores allegedly claimed he was drunk when he made it and didn’t remember what he had said.
“Flores stated that he loves America and is upset about what is going on right now. However, Flores has no intention of harming anyone but would defend himself if he had to. Flores was remorseful and apologetic to interviewing FBI Special Agents,” the criminal complaint stated.
“Our office will treat any threats of violence against protesters extremely seriously,” said U.S. Attorney John F. Bash about the case on Twitter.
Flores faces up to five years in federal prison over the charge.
