Man accused of Pride Month mass killing threat arrested on CSAM charges
A man has been arrested by the FBI (Getty Images, stock)
A man accused of repeatedly threatening mass violence against the LGBTQ+ community has been arrested by the FBI after investigators allegedly found CSAM in his possession during their investigation.
Robinson De La Cruz Hilario, of Puerto Rico, is facing federal charges including interstate communication of threats, receiving CSAM, and possession of obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse.
According to a 26 June press release, the FBI launched an investigation after receiving a tip in February about social media posts that appeared to threaten a mass shooting targeting LGBTQ+ people.
According to an affidavit, De La Cruz shared what was described as a tactical map of a gay-friendly venue, posted messages including “let’s kill every single person in the LGBTQ community”, and praised the gunman responsible for the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando. Other posts allegedly featured neo-Nazi imagery and threats directed at Pride events.
When agents searched De La Cruz’s online accounts after issuing a warrant, they said they discovered hundreds of AI-generated or cartoon depictions of child sexual abuse, along with seven videos containing CSAM.
During an interview with investigators, De La Cruz admitted the social media accounts belonged to him and acknowledged researching firearms, but claimed his posts were intended as “trolling” to intimidate organisers into cancelling Pride events rather than genuine plans to carry out an attack.
While authorities say they found no evidence that an attack was imminent, federal prosecutors allege the repeated violent posts, combined with the discovery of CSAM, warranted criminal charges. De La Cruz remains charged with multiple federal offences, and the allegations against him have not yet been tested in court.
If you’ve been affected by this story, you can reach out to Rape Crisis England & Wales at 0808 500 2222, NAPAC at 0808 801 0331 or The Survivors Trust at 0808 801 0818. Readers in the US can contact RAINN at 1-800-656-HOPE, or text HOPE to 64673
