Skip to main content
Tags: florida | massshooting | arrest

Fla. Man Arrested for Threatening to Commit Mass Shooting

Fla. Man Arrested for Threatening to Commit Mass Shooting
Tristan Scott Wix

By    |   Sunday, 18 August 2019 07:52 PM EDT

A Florida man was arrested Friday for threatening to commit a mass shooting, WESH2 reports.

Tristan Scott Wix, 25, made the threats in a text message to his ex-girlfriend.

The arrest comes weeks after two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, left 31 people dead and dozens more injured.

"I wanna open fire on a large crowd of people from over 3 miles away before I die and I need a spotter (laughing cry face emoji),” Wix reportedly messaged his ex-girlfriend according to police.

Wix told police he was fascinated by mass shootings but that he did not own any firearms, though authorities recovered a .22 caliber hunting rifle and 400 rounds of ammunition in his apartment.

In the messages, he described a school as a “weak target” and said he wasn’t crazy.

“I just wanna die and I wanna have fun doing it, but I'm the most patient person in the world,” he reportedly said.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office arrested him in a Winn-Dixie parking lot in Daytona Beach Shores Friday.

"When you look at this kid's background, he is the profile of a shooter," Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood told CNN. "He lost his job, he lost his girlfriend, he's depressed, he's got the ammunition and he wants to become known for being the most prolific killer in American history."

Two others were arrested over the weekend for similar plans. James Patrick Reardon was arrested for allegedly threatening to carry out a shooting at a Youngstown Jewish community center and Brandon Wagshol was arrested after authorities said he had expressed interest in committing a mass shooting on Facebook.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


Newsfront
A Florida man was arrested Friday for threatening to commit a mass shooting, WESH2 reports.Tristan Scott Wix, 25, made the threats in a text message to his ex-girlfriend.The arrest comes weeks after two mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, left 31 people dead...
florida, massshooting, arrest
277
2019-52-18
Sunday, 18 August 2019 07:52 PM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved