FBI: Man accused of threatening to ‘organize mobs’ to kill 30,000 in Cincinnati
THIS LASTS. THIS IS NEWS LEADING THE WAY. 5 A.M. HERE ON YOUR FRIDAY STARTING AUGUST OFF WITH A VERY DIFFERENT FEEL WHEN YOU GET GOING. MUCH COOLER RIGHT NOW. GOOD MORNING. I’M STEVEN ALBRITTON AND I’M KELLY RIPPIN. THANKS FOR JOINING US. WE’RE GOING TO GET TO OUR CO-ANCHOR MEGAN MITCHELL HERE IN JUST A BIT, GETTING YOU READY FOR OHIO’S TAX FREE HOLIDAY KICKED OFF AT MIDNIGHT. SO LET’S START THOUGH WITH METEOROLOGIST ALLISON ROGERS BECAUSE ALLISON THIS FORECAST DOES PUT US IN MIND OF BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING AND EVERYTHING. EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE TRYING TO GET DURING THE TAX FREE HOLIDAY. IT SURE DOES. TEMPERATURES OUTSIDE TODAY ARE GOING TO BE NICE AND COMFORTABLE. OUTSIDE KIND OF GETS YOU IN THAT FALL MOOD, GETS YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT FOOTBALL JUST AROUND THE CORNER. MAYBE ALL THINGS PUMPKIN SPICE JUST AROUND THE CORNER, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. LET’S NOT GET TOO CARRIED AWAY. IT’S STILL SUMMER OUTSIDE THIS WEEKEND, BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE OUT THERE, MORE OR LESS HUMID OUTSIDE TOO. AND TEMPERATURES ARE SITTING IN THE 60S. NOW, JUST 70 IS EXPECTED FOR THIS AFTERNOON. AND WE ARE DRY FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND TOO, SO YOU’VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO ENJOY. NOT JUST TODAY, NOT JUST TOMORROW, BUT EVEN SUNDAY. STILL LOOKS TO BE A NICE ONE OUT THERE. 64 IN CINCINNATI. NOW SOME SPOTS, THOUGH WITHIN THE METRO HAVE FALLEN DOWN TO THE LOW 60S. WE HAVE 61 IN COLERAIN, 61 DEGREES IN SHARONVILLE SITTING AT 61 IN LOVELAND RIGHT NOW, 63 IN MIDDLETOWN. TEMPERATURES ARE CLOSER TO ABOUT 65 IN UNION THIS MORNING. SO IF YOU’RE WAKING UP WITH US IN UNION, NOT TOO BAD OUTSIDE. THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE DAY, TEMPERATURES STILL VARYING ANYWHERE FROM ABOUT 65 DOWN TO ABOUT 61 JUST FOR THE MORNING TIME FRAME. AS WE GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, MAKING IT INTO THE 70S, LOTS OF SUNSHINE EXPECTED FOR TODAY AS WELL. COMING UP IN A FEW MINUTES, I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE WEEKEND, BUT THEN ALSO NEXT WEEK. SNEAK PEEK AT SOME RAIN CHANCES THAT ARE BACK WITH US. KELLY. ALL RIGHT, ALISON, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO BREAKING NEWS HERE ON WLWT. YOU SEE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUING THIS ALERT WITHIN THE LAST TWO HOURS OR SO, ASKING STUDENTS TO REMAIN IN PLACE AS THEY SEARCH FOR AN ARMED SUSPECT. THAT SUSPECT IS STILL NOT IN CUSTODY, BUT OFFICERS HAVE NOT CLARIFIED IF THE AREA IS SAFE YET. ALL OF THIS HAPPENING AROUND 230 THIS MORNING BETWEEN VINE AND EAST MCMILLAN STREET. WLWT NEWS GIACOMO LUCA IS LIVE FOR US. GIACOMO YOU’VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THOSE CALLS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SEE IF PEOPLE CAN GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. STEPHEN, WE LAST HEARD FROM CINCINNATI POLICE ABOUT AN HOUR AGO ON THE SCENE AFTER THAT SUSPECT HAD CRASHED HIS VEHICLE ALONG MCMILLAN NEAR VINE. OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE MAN WAS INITIALLY WANTED IN CONNECTION TO A FELONIOUS ASSAULT, AS WELL AS A ROBBERY THAT WAS OUT OF DISTRICT THREE. BUT HE HAD EVENTUALLY LEFT. THAT AREA WAS TRACKED DOWN OVER IN SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, WHO SPOTTED THE SUSPECT DRIVING IN THEIR AREA. HE’S A 24 YEAR OLD BLACK MAN, AND POLICE SAY THEY’RE VERY WELL AWARE OF WHO HE IS. OFFICIALS THEN CHASING HIM UNTIL BACK INTO CINCINNATI, UNTIL HE CRASHED INTO SOME CONSTRUCTION BARRIERS THERE AT THE SCENE OF MCMILLAN AND VINE NEAR UC’S CAMPUS. THEN HE RAN AWAY ON FOOT. POLICE SAY THEY HAD DEPLOYED SOME CANINES AND DRONES WITH THE HELP OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AS WELL AS THE SPRINGDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT. BUT THAT EXTENSIVE SEARCH ENDED AROUND 345 THIS MORNING. OUR PHOTOGRAPHER WAS ON SCENE AS THAT SUSPECT’S VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. NOW WE’VE REACHED OUT TO OFFICIALS AND WE ARE WAITING FOR A CALL BACK. WE’RE TOLD THAT THE SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE CALLING US BACK SOON. WHEN WE GET MORE DETAILS, WE’LL MAKE SURE TO BRING YOU THOSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. BUT FOR NOW, WE’RE LIVE AT CINCINNATI POLICE DISTRICT ONE HEADQUARTERS. I’M GIACOMO LUCA WLWT NEWS FIVE. STORY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WAY ON JACQUELINE. THANK YOU. 504 NOW, TODAY, CINCINNATI MAYOR AFTAB PUREVAL IS SET TO ADDRESS THAT DOWNTOWN ASSAULT THAT’S BEEN MAKING NATIONAL HEADLINES. IT COMES AS BACKLASH GROWS OVER THE RESPONSE TO THE VIOLENCE. THE MAYOR NOW SAYS HE DISAGREES WITH THE CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS FROM OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER VICTORIA PARKS. THAT COMMENT REFERS TO THE VICTIMS OF THE ASSAULT, QUOTE HER SAYING HERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY BEGGED FOR THAT BEATDOWN. KEEP IN MIND, INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT SAID WHAT LED UP TO THE BRAWL. AT THE CENTER OF ALL OF THIS, EVEN THE FBI IS LOOKING INTO THIS. WE REACHED OUT TO PARKS, WHO REPEATEDLY WE REACHED OUT TO HER REPEATEDLY, WHO LATER CONFIRMED SHE MADE THE POST. AND SHE STANDS BY IT. AS WE REPORTED YESTERDAY MORNING. NOW, WE EMAILED EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL FOR COMMENT. WE ARE HEARING BACK FROM THEM NOW. EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED, FROM MICAH OWENS TO MARK JEFFRIES TO SETH WALSH. WALSH CONDEMNED PARKS MESSAGE. HOWEVER, WHEN WE ASKED, THEY DID NOT ASK FOR HER TO RESIGN OR COMMIT TO A REVIEW. WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ADULTS, ALL OF US. WE’RE THE ONES WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SETTING HOW IT WORKS IN SOCIETY. WE CANNOT IN ANY CAPACITY APPROVE OF VIOLENCE FOR WHATEVER REASON. PERIOD. I THINK ALL OF US NEED TO GET ON THE SAME PAGE THAT THAT THIS TYPE OF VIOLENCE IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO DAYLIGHT IN ANY OF US ON THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS THAT IS CLEAR. AGAIN, PARKS TOLD US EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT SHE WAS NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION COME THIS NOVEMBER. NOW, SHE ISN’T THE ONLY ONE FACING PUSHBACK AFTER POSTING COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ABOUT THAT VIOLENCE DOWNTOWN. IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR, WE’LL SHOW YOU HOW A MEMBER OF THE ROSS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR HIS RESIGNATION. AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN READ OUR FULL COVERAGE OF THIS DEVELOPING STORY AT ANY TIME ON WLWT.COM AND OUR NEWS APP. STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS WE ARE TRYING TO GET ANSWERED. WE’LL BRING YOU UPDATES LATER TODAY ON MAYOR PUREVAL ADDRESS. 505 BREAKING NEWS PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SETTING NEW TARIFF RATES ON DOZENS OF COUNTRIES AND PUSHING BACK THE EFFECTIVE DATE BY SEVEN DAYS. THE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNED LAST NIGHT, JUST HOURS BEFORE THAT TARIFF DEADLINE, NEW RATES ON CANADA TAKING EFFECT IMMEDIATELY. WLWT NEWS FIVE’S JACKIE DEFUSCO IN WASHINGTON WITH MORE. YEAH, KELLY. IT IS THE LATEST LAST MINUTE SHAKEUP IN PRESIDENT TRUMP’S EFFORT TO RESHAPE GLOBAL TRADE IN AMERICA’S FAVOR, DEEPENING UNCERTAINTY FOR CONSUMERS AND MANY BUSINESSES. THE NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER, SIGNED JUST HOURS BEFORE THE LONG PROMISED OVERNIGHT DEADLINE, TAKES EFFECT NEXT FRIDAY AND APPLIES TO NEARLY 70 COUNTRIES, PLUS THE 27 MEMBER EUROPEAN UNION. IT SETS TARIFF RATES RANGING FROM 41 TO 10%. SOME REFLECTING RECENT TRADE AGREEMENTS, BUT MANY UNILATERALLY SET BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. COUNTRIES NOT EXPLICITLY LISTED IN THE ORDER FACE A BASELINE 10% TARIFF. NOW ALSO ON THURSDAY, MEXICO WAS GRANTED TEMPORARY RELIEF FROM STEEPER TARIFFS AS THE PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULD ENTER INTO A 90 DAY NEGOTIATING PERIOD WHILE MAINTAINING THE CURRENT 25% RATE ON CERTAIN GOODS. THE PRESIDENT SIGNED A SEPARATE ORDER TAKING EFFECT TODAY, INCREASING TARIFFS TO 35% ON ANOTHER MAJOR TRADING PARTNER, CANADA, FOR, HE SAYS, NOT DOING ENOUGH TO STOP THE FLOW OF FENTANYL. WE HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO CANADA TODAY. HE’S CALLED AND WE’LL WE’LL SEE. BUT WE HAVE MADE A FEW DEALS TODAY THAT ARE EXCELLENT DEALS FOR THE COUNTRY. YOU KNOW, WE’RE TAKING IN LITERALLY TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE COUNTRY. THIS IS MAKING OUR COUNTRY VERY RICH AND RESPECTED AGAIN. AND BUILDING ON THE PRESIDENT’S SECTOR SPECIFIC TARIFFS, A NEW 50% IMPORT TAX ON CERTAIN COPPER PRODUCTS IS TAKING EFFECT TODAY. PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS IT IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO SHORE UP NATIONAL SECURITY, WHILE CRITICS SAY THAT IT COULD RAISE COSTS FOR THINGS LIKE HOME BUILDING. IN WASHINGTON, I’M JACKIE DEFUSCO, WLWT NEWS FIVE. COMING UP AT 508, TODAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE BENGALS TO PUT PEN TO PAPER AND SIGN A NEW LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE TEAM AT PAYCOR STADIUM. HAMILTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A NEW LEASE DESIGNED TO KEEP THE BENGALS PLAYING FOOTBALL AT PAYCOR STADIUM THROUGH AT LEAST 2036. IT INITIALLY APPEARED IT WAS IN LINE WITH WHAT NEGOTIATORS FOR THE COUNTY AND THE TEAM HAD AGREED TO OVER THE COURSE OF MANY MONTHS, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR LOST PARKING REVENUE IN THE FUTURE REMAINS A SERIOUS STICKING POINT. IF LOTS GO OFFLINE FOR REASONS THAT WE DON’T CONTROL, THEN SHOULD THE COUNTY BE LIABLE FOR GOING OUT AND REPLACING THOSE PARKING PARKING SPOTS AT A COST THAT REALLY HAS HAS NO NUMBER AT THIS POINT. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE THAT WE’RE REASONABLY APPROACHING THAT SO THAT THE COUNTY’S LIABILITY IS IS PREDICTABLE AND CAPPED WHERE POSSIBLE. HAMILTON COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR JEFF ALUTTO SAID THE VERSION OF THE LEASE THAT’S NOW IN FRONT OF BENGALS OFFICIALS INCLUDES LANGUAGE THAT HE THINKS THEY WILL FIND SUITABLE. BUT UNTIL TEAM OFFICIALS SIGN ON, THE BOTTOM LINE, THERE IS NO NEW LEASE AGREEMENT HAPPENING NOW. OHIO’S TAX FREE HOLIDAY OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY, AND THIS TIME AROUND, IT IS LONGER THAN EVER. SO YOU’VE GOT TIME TO PLAN. AND IF YOU ARE PUTTING A SHOPPING SPREE ON THE CALENDAR, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED. OUR CO-ANCHOR MEGAN MITCHELL LIVE FROM ROOKWOOD THIS MORNING. SO, MEGAN, TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE BIG EVENT. YES. AND WHAT’S VERY EXCITING THIS YEAR, YOU GUYS, IS THAT THIS ACTUALLY LASTS TWO WHOLE WEEKS. AND I CAN CONFIRM THIS MORNING I’VE HAD CHILLS LIKE THREE TIMES. IT FEELS LIKE BACK TO SCHOOL AND FAMILIES ARE GETTING READY FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR TO BEGIN. SO FROM NOW THROUGH AUGUST 14TH THIS YEAR, GUYS, SHOPPERS NOT GOING TO PAY SALES TAX ON MOST ITEMS UNDER $500. THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE CLOTHING, BOOKS, HOME GOODS, ELECTRONICS. OHIOANS CAN EVEN SAVE NEARLY 8% ON EACH PURCHASE THROUGH THIS OFFERING. AND FOR FAMILIES STOCKING UP, THAT CAN REALLY ADD UP. SO WITH SCHOOL, OF COURSE, JUST AROUND THE CORNER, SOME STORES ARE SEEING A BIG BUMP IN TRAFFIC. MOST PEOPLE JUST THINK ABOUT THOSE SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BUT IT GOES SO MUCH BIGGER. YOU THINK ABOUT IT GOES INTO OUR APPAREL, FASHION ITEMS, GOES INTO SHOES, SOME FOOD ITEMS, ELECTRONICS, EVEN DIAPERS. AND SO ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN GO TO SOME OF THE STORES. WE ARE HERE AT ROOKWOOD THIS MORNING. I KNOW A LOT OF YOU ARE SHOPPING FOR CLOTHING AS THEY HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL. GOT TO LOOK GREAT THAT FIRST DAY. BUT THIS IS ALSO ONLINE, SO AS LONG AS IT IS IN THAT TAX WINDOW TAX FREE WINDOW, YOU CAN ALSO GET THAT TAX FREE HOLIDAY PERK ONLINE AS WELL. REPORTING LIVE HE
FBI: Man accused of threatening to ‘organize mobs’ to kill 30,000 in Cincinnati
Updated: 4:32 PM EDT Aug 1, 2025
A man from Dayton was arrested by the FBI Friday morning, accused of threatening to “organize mobs” to kill thousands in Cincinnati. The threat, which included racist language, was reported by Cincinnati police to the FBI. According to the FBI, Scott Michael Hanna, 30, from Dayton, allegedly posted on X on July 31, 2025, saying he was “organizing mobs to kill people in Cincinnati.” It comes in the wake of the downtown brawl that has sparked national attention.The post goes on to state he was aiming to kill “30k” by Sunday to “cleanse the city of blacks.” “The FBI aggressively investigates those who threaten our communities with violence,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “Threats like this impact the entire community and have serious consequences.”Charging documents state Cincinnati police reported the post to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, who was then able to trace the post to Hanna. Hanna is known to police, having been involved in a “menacing incident” at his home in September.According to the FBI, Hanna called police and “threatened to cut off an individual’s head.”Officials said Hanna “had swung a full-sized sword at a victim’s neck, resulting in serious injury and what appeared to be a partial decapitation.”When law enforcement responded, Hanna started yelling and screaming at an officer “calling him a racial slur.”WLWT is working to learn any charges Hanna faced in that incident and where the case stands. Hanna is charged with making an interstate communication with a threat to injure. If convicted he faces up to five years in prison.He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Dayton at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
DAYTON, Ohio —
A man from Dayton was arrested by the FBI Friday morning, accused of threatening to “organize mobs” to kill thousands in Cincinnati.
The threat, which included racist language, was reported by Cincinnati police to the FBI.
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#BREAKING FBI agents arrested a Dayton man this morning. Scott Michael Hanna, 30, allegedly posted on X yesterday, saying he was organizing mobs to kill people in Cincinnati. FBI says the post further states, he was aiming to kill “30k” by Sunday. @wlwt
— Karin Johnson WLWT (@karinjohnson) August 1, 2025
According to the FBI, Scott Michael Hanna, 30, from Dayton, allegedly posted on X on July 31, 2025, saying he was “organizing mobs to kill people in Cincinnati.”
It comes in the wake of the downtown brawl that has sparked national attention.
The post goes on to state he was aiming to kill “30k” by Sunday to “cleanse the city of blacks.”
“The FBI aggressively investigates those who threaten our communities with violence,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “Threats like this impact the entire community and have serious consequences.”
Charging documents state Cincinnati police reported the post to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, who was then able to trace the post to Hanna.
Hanna is known to police, having been involved in a “menacing incident” at his home in September.
According to the FBI, Hanna called police and “threatened to cut off an individual’s head.”
Officials said Hanna “had swung a full-sized sword at a victim’s neck, resulting in serious injury and what appeared to be a partial decapitation.”
When law enforcement responded, Hanna started yelling and screaming at an officer “calling him a racial slur.”
WLWT is working to learn any charges Hanna faced in that incident and where the case stands.
Hanna is charged with making an interstate communication with a threat to injure. If convicted he faces up to five years in prison.
He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Dayton at 2:30 p.m. Friday.