SEATTLE — A Kirkland man has pleaded guilty to a single felony for making an interstate threat against the life of former Ferguson, Mo., Police Officer Darren Wilson and his family.
Jaleel Tariq Abdul-Jabbaar, 46, entered the plea Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Donohue in Seattle. Two other counts are set to be dismissed at sentencing, which is set for June 12 before U.S. District Judge Robert Lasnik.
Abdul-Jabbaar was ordered held in detention after his arrest Dec. 2. Donohue ordered him released under supervision pending his next court appearance, according to the court docket.
According to the federal complaint, Abdul-Jabbaar tried to purchase a firearm over Facebook, telling the seller that he was “going to Ferguson,” apparently to seek revenge on Wilson, the officer who fatally shot an 18-year-old unarmed teenager, Michael Brown, in August.
After a series of escalating declarations of outrage and threats over the Brown shooting, Abdul-Jabbaar is alleged to have posted the following on his Facebook page Nov. 11: “Are there any REAL BLACK MEN that would love to go down to Ferguson Missouri to give back those bullets that Police Officer (D.W.) fired into the body of Mike Brown. If we’re unable to locate Officer (D.W.) then we’ll return them to his wife and if not her then his children.”
Five days after the Aug. 9 shooting of Brown, the complaint alleges, Abdul-Jabbaar complained on his Facebook page that officials had not yet identified the officer involved. When they do, he wrote, “Then we can find where the cop’s child goes to school . “
On Aug. 30, after surveillance video of the shooting was released publicly, he allegedly wrote, “We really need to start killing the police . OOoooppps I mean our oppressors.”
On Sept. 15, Abdul-Jabbaar posted Wilson’s photograph after a hacker put it up on the Internet, according to the complaint. “This dude needs his house sprayed,” he allegedly wrote. A few weeks later, he wrote, “We the oppressed people need to kill this white cop,” the complaint says.
On Nov. 16, the complaint says, Abdul-Jabbaar wrote a lengthy missive on his Facebook page, anticipating the grand-jury’s decision not to charge Wilson. “How many are preparing, are prepared for Ferguson? Whatever pocket change I got I’m ready to roll to lay down my life so who is ready to roll with me.”
When the Ferguson grand jury returned its decision, Abdul-Jabbaar reportedly posted, “Ready to go and kill some cops.”
In late October, Abdul-Jabbaar is reported to have connected with a friend on Facebook looking to buy a .40-caliber or 9-mm handgun, according to the complaint.
Abdul-Jabbaar has prior drug- and firearms-related convictions.
The charges were brought by FBI Special Agent Brett Glover of the bureau’s Seattle office and Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Making interstate threats carries a penalty of up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
