Suspect headed to Ohio over alleged football game threat
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A federal magistrate judge on Wednesday ordered a man be sent to Ohio to face a criminal charge that he threatened to shoot up Ohio State University and hurt players on the football team.
A September indictment unsealed last month in federal court in Columbus accuses Daniel Rippy of making the “electronic communication” threat from California during the 2018 game, which was played in Columbus that year. Ohio State won the contest 62-39.
Rippy said the school would be shot up “and I’m seriously going to hurt the students and all of the players from the football team,” according to the Sept. 26 indictment.
Rippy was arrested Dec. 28 in Livermore, California, released on bond, but then failed to report to the court’s Pretrial Services division as required, records show.
Rippy was re-arrested Monday in California, and on Wednesday Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu ordered him handed over to U.S. Marshals and sent to Ohio, according to court records. Rippy’s court-appointed federal public defender declined comment.
WOOD-TV reported Jan. 2 that Rippy said he was innocent during a Facebook message exchange with the station.
