Gabriela Saldana, a 23-year-old FIU senior, was arrested by FIU police at approximately 2:10 a.m. Thursday, April 16, on a felony charge of making threats to kill or cause bodily harm.
Gabriella Mateo | Staff Writer
Saldana, who is an undergraduate research assistant at FIU, was reported by another student in a 215-person group chat after she wrote: “Netanyahu, if you can hear me, drop some bonbons for us Capstone students in Ocean Bank Convocation Center.”
The message appeared to reference a social media trend in which users jokingly call on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “bomb” or “strike” locations, often in traffic-related videos.
The FIU senior also sent another text that states: “There is going to be a bomb in the Ocean Bank Convocation Center, and it was going to be Jonathan’s fault,” naming a supposed classmate.
According to police, Saldana admitted to sending these messages, but stated she meant no true harm and said she was just joking.
In a released statement, FIU said: “An FIU student has been arrested for making a credible and imminent threat of violence at a planned university event. According to the investigation, the suspect identified a specific date, time, and venue. Given the ongoing investigation and federal student privacy laws, FIU has no further comment. There is no further threat to the university community.”
Saldana’s bond was set at $5,000. The judge presiding over the case did not find probable cause for charges of prejudice.
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