A South Carolina man has been charged with threatening to kill a New York journalist and her family, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Austin Suman, 35, of Myrtle Beach, faces charges of willfully making a threat involving explosives and interstate stalking.
According to the criminal complaint, Suman sent threats via Facebook and email on November 8, 2024, targeting a reporter based in Orange County, New York. His messages included racial slurs, derogatory remarks, and explicit threats of violence.
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Suman allegedly wrote, “You are a dumb spick, we [are] coming for you. I will end you and your family. You better stay in [N]ew [Y]ork.” He also threatened to blow up the victim’s home, saying, “I can blow your house off [its] foundation tread lightly.”
The threats appeared to be motivated by an article the journalist wrote years earlier, which detailed Suman’s arrest for threatening a former roommate with a firearm—a case that led to his guns being confiscated. In his messages, Suman claimed all his firearms had since been returned and boasted about possessing “more guns than ever,” including “ful[ly] auto[matic]” weapons.
Suman’s messages also included hateful comments targeting the journalist’s gender, ethnicity, and national origin. He referred to her as a “dumb fuckin cunt” and a “female journalist what a joke.” He used racial slurs, including “dumb Mexican” and “fucking spicks,” and wrote, “We are going to deport your family . . . [u]seless life. Dumb bitch. I would drag you by your legs naked with my horse.”
If convicted, Suman faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, although the final sentence will be determined by a judge.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the gravity of the charges: “The charges against the defendant demonstrate our resolve to work at lightning speed to neutralize threats against the press—which serves a vital role in our democracy. To any individual who dares to cross the line and make hate-based threats against members of our press: you will be found, and you will be held accountable for your actions.”
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