Alleged neo-Nazi teenager who rammed WH barriers with U-Haul truck has charges quietly downgraded



The teenager accused of ramming a U-Haul into a barrier outside the White House on Monday had his criminal charges quietly downgraded.

What is the background?

Sai Varshith Kandula, a 19-year-old from Missouri, was initially charged with five crimes after police say he drove a U-Haul box truck into barriers along Lafayette Square outside the White House.

Those charges included threatening to kill, kidnap, or inflict harm on a president, vice president, or family member; assault with a dangerous weapon; reckless operation of a motor vehicle; trespassing; and destruction of federal property.

Kandula allegedly told federal agents his goal was to "get to the White House, seize power, and be put in charge of the nation." When officers asked how he would accomplish that, Kandula allegedly said he was willing to "kill the president" and "hurt anyone that would stand in my way."

What happened now?

Kandula appeared in federal court on Wednesday, his first court appearance since the incident late Monday.

During the hearing in which prosecutors requested pretrial detention, a request that Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather granted, the charges against Kandula were read — but only for one crime.

Now, Kandula is only being charged with a single count of depredation of United States government property in excess of $1,000, according to CNN.

The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison if he is convicted. However, because it is a "specific intent" crime, prosecutors would need to prove that Kandula destroyed or attempted to destroy government property while knowing that it is a crime.

It's true that prosecutors could bring additional criminal charges as their case against Kandula progresses, but it's not clear why Kandula's charges were reduced.

Questions remain about Kandula's motive. He is not a U.S. citizen, and it's not clear why he would, according to investigators, praise Adolf Hitler and Nazism. Prosecutors did not specify Kandula's country of origin. Federal agents searched his home on Tuesday.

Who is Sai Kandula? Chesterfield man charged in White House crash www.youtube.com

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Video: Teen charged with threatening president's life; allegedly rammed U-Haul into barriers near White House



A man is in custody after crashing a U-Haul into a security barrier outside Lafayette Park near the White House Monday night, the Secret Service and United States Park Police reported.

United States Park Police identified Sai Varshith Kandula, 19, of Chesterfield, Missouri, as the driver of the vehicle.

Kandula was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon; reckless operation of a motor vehicle; threatening to kill, kidnap, or inflict harm on a president, vice president, or family member; destruction of federal property, and trespassing.

"Shortly before 10:00 p.m. Monday, Secret Service Uniformed Division officers detained the driver of a box truck after the vehicle collided with security barriers on the north side of Layfatette Square at 16th Street," Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement on Twitter.

"There were no injuries to any Secret Service or White House personnel and the cause and manner of the crash remain under investigation."

Roads and pedestrian walkways were closed as officials investigated.

Guglielmi later reported the D.C. police had deemed the U-Haul "safe."

"Preliminary investigation reveals the driver may have intentionally struck the security barriers at Lafayette Square. Charges will be filed by the United States Park Police with investigative support from the Secret Service."

The man, a U.S. citizen, allegedly made threatening statements aimed at President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, a law enforcement source told CBS News.

The same source also told the outlet Kandula did not show up on any watch lists, nor did he appear to have any significant record.

No explosives or weapons were found inside the truck, CBS News also reported.

A report from CNN affiliate WUSA says investigators "apparently found a Nazi flag with belongings inside the truck." Other items included what appeared to be a black backpack and a roll of duct tape.

\u201cNEW: Investigators pulled what appears to be a Nazi flag out of the U-Haul, but they haven't provided any further details.\n\nHere's what we know: https://t.co/cXt81Ji2NA\u201d
— Troy Pope (@Troy Pope) 1684810481

Below, watch Twitter user @Itzajobi's clip of the incident, verified by Reuters, showing the box truck crashing into the security bollards outside Layfette Park.

\u201c@OhMyGOFF @shomaristone @fox5dc @LokayFOX5 Happened to walk by right before it happened\u2026crazy\u201d
— angie goff (@angie goff) 1684809190

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Man hits at least 8 people with U-Haul truck in New York City the day Islamic terrorist faces sentencing for killing 8 people with rental years earlier



A 62-year-old Asian man driving a U-Haul truck allegedly ran over several people in New York City Monday before leading police on a high-speed chase. While two of the victims are in critical condition and another two are in serious condition, no one has yet died from their injuries.

This grievous attack, which Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell described as a "violent rampage through Brooklyn," coincided with the beginning of death penalty sentencing for convicted Islamic terrorist Sayfullo Saipov, who murdered eight people in 2017 while similarly driving a rented truck in New York City.

What are the details?

Police first responded around 10:50 a.m. to reports of a single male erratically driving a U-Haul truck in the Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn.

According to the Daily Mail, the suspect, who has been identified as Weng Sor, first hit a person riding an e-bike around 11 a.m. near Fifth Avenue and Bay Ridge Parkway. When the suspect sped off, going northbound, police gave chase.

ABC7 indicated that when police attempted to pull over the suspect, he yelled, "Shoot me, I'm not stopping," and then veered onto the sidewalk.

The suspect managed to hit seven other people, including a police officer, during his 30-minute rampage before officers were finally able to bring the mayhem to an end.

Eyewitnesses saw pedestrians and e-bike riders splayed out on the ground after the truck barreled through, reported the Associated Press.

A surveillance camera captured the moment when the suspect smashed into an e-bike, sending the driver hurtling through the air, and then nearly flattening a pedestrian:

\u201c\ud83d\udea8#UPDATE: brand new surveillance footage has just been released and shows the moment pedestrians were struck in Brooklyn police are now reporting the driver was a 62 year old asian male\u201d
— R A W S A L E R T S (@R A W S A L E R T S) 1676308775

New York City Councilman Justin Brannan, who deals with Bay Ridge, indicated on Twitter that the suspect was ultimately arrested near the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, which connects Brooklyn to Manhattan.

\u201cSuspect was actually arrested near the BK Battery Tunnel. We think he hit at least 6 people with the truck and 2 are in very bad shape. PLEASE pray for these folks.\u201d
— Justin Brannan (@Justin Brannan) 1676306077

Highway patrol units boxed the U-Haul and its driver against a building at Hamilton Avenue and Columbia Street. The suspect was taken into custody for questioning at the 68th precinct.

"At this time, we have no indication that there is any terrorism involvement in this incident, said Police Commissioner Sewell. "However, as always, we will continue to investigate this incident with the full resources of the NYPD and our partners."

The suspect reportedly rented the U-Haul in Daytona Beach, Florida, in January, and had at least one previous address in Brooklyn. The New York Post suggested that the suspect may have been living out of the truck.

While Sewell maintains that there is presently no evidence of "terrorism involvement," the coincidence of the timing of the attack and the death penalty phase of the Islamic terrorist Saipov's trial has prompted some to consider the other similarities between the two rampages.

Former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told ABC News, "I worked the Sayfullo Saipov case I remember how dangerous it was and what he did and how deadly it was. That was the first thing that came to mind when I heard about the rented truck. So let's hope it's not that and it's a person in mental distress at this point and it's nothing more than that. It's difficult to link the two right now but how can you not think about that?"

35-year-old Saipov drove a rented truck on a West Side bike path, murdering eight people on Oct. 31, 2017. The terrorist said he was inspired by ISIS.

Former President Donald Trump called for Saipov to be taken out via the death penalty. If Trump gets his way, Saipov will reportedly be the first person sentenced to death in the city since 1963.

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No justice, no peace: BLM protesters reportedly burn black-owned business during Rochester riots — and the owner, who built his business out of poverty, is livid



Jesse Barksdale, the black owner of a Rochester, New York, multipurpose store that leases U-Haul vehicles, was reportedly "livid" after Black Lives Matter demonstrators reportedly set fire to at least three of his trucks in the early hours of Sunday morning.

What are the details?

A sign hangs outside of Barksdale's business — "Proud to be Black Owned" — but that apparently didn't stop who are believed to be Black Lives Matter demonstrators from burning down his business.

The city has erupted in riots and demonstrations following the release of bodycam footage capturing the late Daniel Prude's arrest in March.

Prude died after being detained by members of the Rochester Police Department. His family is now calling for the officers — who have been suspended — to be charged with murder.

WHEC-TV's Charles Molineaux tweeted photos of Barksdale's devastated business on Sunday.

Molineaux captioned the photos, "Multiple trucks on fire at U-Haul on State Street at Brown. Rochester fire just arriving now."

Multiple trucks on fire at U-Haul on State Street at Brown.Rochester fire just arriving now. https://t.co/J7VnqflbYR
— Charles Molineaux (@Charles Molineaux)1599369689.0

Molineaux later tweeted, "Three U-Haul trucks destroyed at J-Ribs on State Street. Owner Jesse Barksdale says he was bounced out of bed to respond. Livid over the destruction of his business."

Three U-Haul trucks destroyed at J-Ribs on State Street.Owner Jesse Barksdale says he was bounced out of bed to re… https://t.co/ytE69CQurB
— Charles Molineaux (@Charles Molineaux)1599370708.0

'We are certainly not the enemy in this scenario'

Later on Sunday, the business's Facebook page shared an update about the vandalism.

In a lengthy post, the business wrote, "Last night our business fell victim to violence spurred by misdirected anger. I wanted to make this post to share Jribs on state st. is a Native Rochester owned business."

"We certainly are not the enemy in this scenario and are deeply saddened by the violence that occurred last," the post continued. "In these trying times we as Rochestarians need to COME TOGETHER for our city and build eachother [sic] up, not destroy one another regardless of dividing factors."

The post added, "We hope you can all help us spread peace, love, and positivity going forward."

"I have had several people reach out about what they can do to help, or where they can send donations I have attached my Venmo account," the post concluded. "We are in no way requesting donations but it is there for those who would like. The best thing you can do to help would be to come by the shop, chat with us and meet us, and help us grow our business by being a patron! Remember our shop is highly versatile, in addition to selling food we are also a convenience store AND a Uhaul rental/pick up destination. Thank you to those who support us, as we support you back!"

'You have to stay persistent'

Barksdale and his business were both featured in July in the Democrat & Chronicle.

Barksdale, who also serves barbecue at his convenience store, grew up in poverty in the city, and was raised by his aunt after his mother died and his father was jailed.

According to the feature, Barksdale took special education classes in school because he wasn't academically on-track, and barely graduated from high school.

Despite his struggles as a young man, Barksdale overcame and found himself happily at his store in the early hours of the morning every day to cut vegetables and prepare food for his customers.

"In life, you have to stay persistent," he told the outlet.

The feature concludes, "Jesse said he gets the chills when he tells his story. He has not let his challenges with reading and writing deter him from owning a business, and he hopes to be an example for people who struggle in school. His message to them: 'Dude, you can do it.'"