Texas man, 25, sent 14 threatening messages to San Antonio mayor over two days: 'I want to see people dead'
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: A Texas man who sent more than a dozen expletive-laced messages threatening violence against San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg has been arrested and charged.
Adam Thomas Converse, 25, sent at least 14 highly-concerning messages to Nirenberg through Facebook messenger on October 4 and October 5, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by the San Antonio News-Express.
In one of the messages, Converse wrote, "It would be nicer to leave you all dead with no hope of life after death ... I want to see people dead," while others read, "People will lose hands, arms, feet, and heads. Don’t even try me," "I’ll burn you," and "I’ll silence you all for good."
In yet another, the 25-year-old demanded money and wrote, "I'm looking to get filthy rich... I'm going to stab you."
The messages were first noticed by Nirenberg's communications director Bruce Davidson, who promptly reported it to the San Antonio Police and told officers that "his office feared [Converse] could be the next mass shooter based on his comments."
Following an investigation, a San Antonio Police Department investigator said they had found that Converse had been recently placed in an "emergency detention" and that they had determined he was capable of carrying out violence.
On October 5, officers working for the department's Mental Health Unit paid a visit to his residence and saw him walk out with a large machete in his belt loop. He reportedly stated that "he was a contract assassin with the government and if he had a license to kill people, he would kill people."
When the officers tried to detain him, he resisted and attempted to put his arms behind his back so he could pull out the machete. After a brief struggle, he was successfully restrained and transported to a hospital for an evaluation.
He was later arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat to a public servant and resisting arrest, both Class A misdemeanors. His bond has been set at $20,000.
The mayor's office has declined to comment on the arrest or on Nirenberg's security.