New York Man Arrested For Threatening To Open Fire At Jewish Children’s Camp

A New York man was arrested Tuesday after threatening to open fire on students at a Jewish Yeshiva children’s camp in the Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood.

Nicola Pelle, 58, first called about the 500 students at the camp not wearing masks and later called again to make the threat while officers were en route to the camp.

“If I've got to go out there with a friggin' machine gun and shoot all these people, I will,” Pelle reportedly said, frustrated that officers had not yet arrived.

Police redirected their attention to Pelle, who was arrested without incident.

Further investigation of his home turned up a pistol permit valid for Nassau County, five handguns, two assault weapons, as well as numerous rifles and shotguns, all of which were seized for evidence. Nassau County Police Commissioners Patrick Ryder said that at least one weapon was found to be illegally owned.

Pelle was arraigned and hit with four counts of criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, and one count of making a terroristic threat.

After posting bail, Pelle returned home, but what shortly thereafter taken away in an ambulance.

It is unknown what he was taken to receive treatment for, but neighbors explained that he has had surgery for lung cancer and had been medicating with oxycodone.