A Queens man, Judd Sansom, was apprehended in the early hours of Wednesday, following concerns that he may have been planning a significant act of violence. Sansom, 30, was taken into custody at approximately 4:30 a.m. after law enforcement discovered a disturbing array of weapons in his vehicle. The cache included a loaded gun, nine loaded magazines, body armor, handcuffs, two axes, a stun gun, multiple knives, a weighted whip, and an expandable baton. Additionally, NYPD “items” were found in his possession.
Of particular concern were the messages etched into the baton, which included phrases such as “You left me no choice, I am sorry, You gon [sic] learn today” and the Arabic word for “God forgive me.” Authorities also discovered an orange MTA vest among Sansom’s belongings. One police officer involved in the arrest stated, “Given what was in there, something very bad was potentially averted. The intent is still under investigation. The sum of the parts had the potential for something awful.”
Sources indicate that Sansom had expressed extremist views online, further raising concerns about his intentions. The 110th Precinct in Queens initially stopped Sansom’s Ford Explorer around 1 a.m. due to an obstructed license plate. Upon questioning, it was determined that he had been living inside the vehicle and was suspected of regular drug use. Notably, Sansom has no prior arrests in New York City.
Sansom has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon and ammunition, in addition to receiving a violation for the obstructed license plate. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate the incident and the potential threat Sansom may have posed.
