Two Florida men, Isaiah Oglesby, 23, and James Thomas Goolsby, 25, were arrested on Monday after an investigation revealed they were allegedly planning a mass shooting and making terroristic threats.
The tip-off came from a rather unexpected source — the girlfriend of one of the men, who became suspicious after seeing disturbing posts on her boyfriend’s Instagram.
The Investigation and Arrests
According to authorities, the FBI received a tip from the girlfriend, who was concerned about the social media activity of her boyfriend, Isaiah Oglesby.
After the FBI verified the accounts belonged to Oglesby and Goolsby, they contacted the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s office took over the investigation and obtained a search warrant for the men’s social media profiles.
Once they accessed the accounts, authorities discovered a series of alarming communications that appeared to outline plans for a mass shooting.
These included disturbing exchanges between Oglesby and Goolsby discussing their hatred for the government and expressing their desire to bomb the White House and cause violence against political figures.
The Alarming Communications
According to the affidavit, Oglesby initiated the conversation by asking Goolsby, “Wanna plan an attack?” He then reportedly stated, “I’m radicalizing my son to never trust the government,” and further added, “It better be a bloodbath of every corrupt politician in Capitol Hill.” Oglesby allegedly went on to ask, “So, when are we going to bomb the White House?”
Goolsby responded by agreeing to the plot, saying, “Totally, dude, skibidi massacre.” He also allegedly expressed violent views, stating, “I really hate people, I wish I could end everyone and blow the world up.”
The two men are also accused of making antisemitic and discriminatory comments, including Goolsby’s alleged desire to “blow up” a mosque. In addition, they are said to have shared videos of active shooters, further indicating their disturbing intentions.
The Charges and Court Proceedings
The threats reportedly occurred last July. Both men were charged with threatening communications and threatening to carry out a mass shooting.
They were arrested on Monday in Pinellas County. Oglesby is being held on a $150,000 bond, while Goolsby‘s bond is set at $200,000. Their next court dates are yet to be made available.
The Role of the Girlfriend
The pivotal role of the girlfriend in alerting the authorities highlights how vigilance and concern from the public can help thwart potentially disastrous events. By recognizing the warning signs and acting swiftly, she helped prevent a potential tragedy.
Authorities’ Remarks
Law enforcement officials have praised the tip-off, which led to the swift arrest of the two men before their alleged plot could materialize.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI have emphasized that threats like these should always be taken seriously and that authorities will continue to act swiftly to investigate any suspicious activity.
