Florida Student Charged Over WhatsApp Threat Targeting Campus Event

New details have emerged about a Florida student arrested last week for allegedly posting threats in a WhatsApp group chat targeting a campus event at Florida International University, authorities said.

Gabriela Saldana, 23, was arrested on April 16 and charged with making written threats to kill or do bodily injury, a second-degree felony under Florida law. Investigators said the messages, sent a day earlier, were treated as a credible and imminent threat because they referenced a specific venue and upcoming event.

According to police, the messages were posted in a WhatsApp group of about 215 students who were discussing an event scheduled at the university’s Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Authorities allege Saldana wrote, “There’s going to be a bomb in the Ocean Bank Convocation Center,” and added in a separate message, “Netanyahu, if you can hear me, drop some bonbons for us capstone students in Ocean Bank Convention Center.”

Police also said Saldana wrote that the alleged incident would be “Jonathan’s fault,” referring to another student in the chat. When other members reacted with concern, she later wrote, “I made a dumb joke that should not have been made.”

The messages referred to Florida International University’s Senior Design Showcase, a large event at the convocation center with hundreds of students presenting projects. Authorities said the precise details about the location and timing made the threat serious.Saldana was arrested shortly after the messages were reported. 

During a bond hearing, Judge Mindy S. Glazer addressed Saldana’s claim that the messages were intended as a joke but said the legal standard focused on how a reasonable person would interpret them.

“I can understand your position when you are saying this is a joke, but to an objective person, it’s not a joke,” Glazer said. “And it would be enough for probable cause. I’m not saying it’s enough for beyond a reasonable doubt. I don’t know what the state’s going to be able to prove at trial, but for purposes of this hearing, I believe there is enough for probable cause.”

The judge set Saldana’s bond at $5,000. According to reporting, Glazer did not find probable cause for an additional “with prejudice” component tied to the charge, but allowed the core felony allegation to proceed.

In a statement, the university 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.” The university added that there is no further threat to the campus community.