(RepublicanReport.org) – The Gun Violence Archive tracks incidents of shootings in the United States. So far this year, there have been over 6,000 homicides, more than 11,000 injuries, 157 mass shootings, and 11 mass murders. The number could have been much higher if it wasn’t for federal authorities who arrested a US Marine before he could start on his wanted rampage.
On May 10, police arrested 23-year-old Joshua Cobb for allegedly posting plans for a major three-pronged attack in New Jersey — his home state. He was charged with transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce. According to the arrest documents, Cobb wanted to “cause mayhem on the white community” because “they will never understand [his] struggles.”
The suspect reportedly wrote those words in December 2022, shortly before he joined the Marine Corps. The now-former military member said he wanted to “erase…all of them really,” but would settle for taking out as many as possible.
Cobb joined the Corps and attended basic training on Parris Island, South Carolina, in June 2023 before reporting for duty at Twentynine Palms, California, in February. As soon as he was arrested on May 10, the Marines discharged him. His brief stint with the Corps included training at the School of Infantry-East at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and becoming a rifleman with the 1st Battalion in the 7th Marine Regiment. He had not deployed.
The trained ex-military member said he had three places in mind as targets and often “fantasize[d]” in detail about the killings. He considered starting his barrage of attacks at the gym, then going AWOL and fleeing the country. The suspect also indicated it angered him to watch “rich-a** white people” in the grocery store, indicating that he may have been a target as well. Cobb said he imagined feeling the “rush” of a mass shooter like Nikolas Cruz.
The suspect is currently behind bars pending his upcoming bail hearing. If found guilty, Cobb could face a substantial fine and up to five years in prison.
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