A judge has extended a temporary firearms ban by six months for the president of a right-wing UB student group that was alleged to have threatened to “shoot up the school tomorrow.”
Jacob Cassidy — president of UB’s Young Americans for Freedom chapter — sat alone and appeared emotionless behind his attorney, Daniel Henry, Monday morning at a hearing after two witnesses described overhearing Cassidy tell a friend he had a “foldable AR” in his bag where he’ll “shoot them in the foot and knee so they can’t get away,” Wednesday night.
At a press conference following the hearing, Henry said he can’t comment on whether Cassidy said those words.
“We haven't gotten that far in the investigation," said Henry.
Under a temporary extreme risk protection order — which prohibits a person from purchasing or possessing guns under New York State’s “Red Flag Law” — UPD seized multiple firearms from Cassidy after searching him, his car and his parents’ Orchard Park home where he lives Thursday morning. Nine firearms were from the Orchard Park home, according to State Supreme Court Justice Emilio Colaoacovo who presided over the case.
Police had written in the application for the protection order that Cassidy has a pistol permit and is believed to possess other hunting rifles and shotguns.
All firearms seized were legally owned by either Cassidy or his family, Henry said at the press conference.
“The family are avid hunters,” Henry said at the conference.
The order’s extension to May 12 is to allow time for UPD and Cassidy to come to a resolution outside of court. Henry said that the two were likely to reach one before then.
“I don’t think it’ll take six months,” Henry said at the hearing. “In fact, I don’t want it to take six months.”
Colaoacovo said he was “troubled” at UPD’s references to Cassidy's YAF affiliation in filings for extreme risk protection order, saying it was “targeted.”
In the application, UPD wrote that Cassidy was “recently associated with negative social media attention surrounding his tabling in support of ICE on campus, gathering a large number of views on Tiktok.”
“I found that disturbing, almost raising my suspicion if they were targeting this individual because of his political beliefs,” Colaoacovo said.
Henry said at the press conference that he was concerned that UPD’s reference was a "retaliatory" action towards Cassidy.
“That has nothing to do with what we’re hearing,” Henry said. “There’s been no allegations concerning Mr. Cassidy’s involvement with that or in any type of problems in the past with his involvement in that organization.”
UPD denied targeting Cassidy in a public statement released after the hearing.
“Investigators believed these reactions may have been a motivating factor in the suspect’s alleged threatening behavior,” the statement read.
The university’s investigation is still pending and no criminal charges have been filed, police said.
UB Vice President for Student Life Brian Hamluk said that the university cannot discuss specific disciplinary actions involving UB students due to federal privacy laws, but said that the Student Conduct office will issue an interim suspension that prohibits the student from being on campus.
“Please rest assured that the safety and well-being of our students and our entire community is — and always will be — our highest priority,” Hamluk wrote in a public statement. “There is no ongoing threat to students, faculty or staff at this time.”
Henry told reporters that Cassidy was not a danger to the university community or a violent person.
“He’s never had any prior violence or any violence associated with him,” Henry said. “From a very good family. He’s a very good person.”
The news desk can be reached at news@ubspectrum.com.
