Politics
Man Who Bought a Gun to ‘Shoot Up a Synagogue’ Is Sentenced to 10 Years
Christopher Brown sought blessings before he tried to carry out his plan. When he was arrested in Penn Station, he had a gun, a knife and a swastika arm patch.
Two years ago, Christopher Brown posted a social-media message: “Big moves being made on Friday.” A couple of days later, another ominous post: “Brutally murder people with hatchets and whatnot.”
Mr. Brown, 21 at the time, then let the world know that he was weighing whether to “shoot up a synagogue.”
Six days after his first post, Mr. Brown and another man were arrested on a Friday inside Pennsylvania Station, reported to the authorities by members of a Jewish organization who monitor the web for threats. They had an eight-inch military-style knife and a gun with a 30-round magazine. The police found a swastika arm patch and ski mask inside Mr. Brown’s backpack.
In a brief proceeding on Wednesday, Mr. Brown was sentenced by Justice Gregory Carro of State Supreme Court to a decade in prison after pleading guilty to possessing a weapon as a crime of terrorism.
Asked by Justice Carro whether he wanted to address the court before his sentencing, Mr. Brown, wearing tan jail garb and a pale skullcap, replied: “No, thank you, your honor.”
A criminal case against Mr. Brown’s co-defendant, Matthew Mahrer, who was 22 when he was arrested, remains active.
