The FBI and police are investigating threats posted this week on Facebook to “exterminate” LGBT people in Wilton Manors.
“None of you deserve to live,” according to posts on a Facebook page appearing to belong to Craig Jungwirth, believed to be the same man who was accused of defrauding participants in a Fort Lauderdale event earlier this year called Beach Bear Weekend.
“If you losers thought the Pulse nightclub shooting was bad, wait till you see what I’m planning for Labor Day,” the post said. “It’s time to clean up Wilton Manors from all you AIDS infested losers,” said another post.
On June 12, a gunman killed 49 people and wounded dozens at Pulse Nightclub, a gay bar in Orlando, the deadliest massacre in U.S. history.
Wilton Manors police and other law enforcement agencies reacted quickly to the Facebook threats.
“Wilton Manors Police Department has been working with Fort Lauderdale PD, the FBI and the Orlando PD to investigate this matter,’’ said Wilton Manors Commissioner Justin Flippen. “It is being taken very seriously.”
Wilton Manors has one of the largest LGBT communities in the United States. Wilton Manors police arrested Jung, 50, on April 24, 2015, and charged him with defrauding an innkeeper for less than $300, Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show. The records do not indicate the case’s resolution.
Late Wednesday, reports began popping up on Facebook and Twitter that Jungwirth was in custody in the Orlando area. About 6 p.m. Wednesday, Orlando Police tweeted: “We have not made an arrest.”
Jason Parsley, associate publisher of South Florida Gay News, said people had accused Jungwirth of defrauding them during Beach Bear Weekend in May.
“We wrote a story based on his legal past spanning multiple states,” Parsley said Wednesday. “It appeared he was trying to sell tickets to an event that was public. Like $100 to a Beach Bash. But the beach is free and there’s really no bash.”
Parsley said after the story ran in January, Jungwirth showed up at the paper’s Wilton Manors office.
“At first, he did not reveal who he was. The conversation turned hostile,’’ Parsley said. … “My sales manager jumped in and said, ‘I think you have to leave.’ He had to say it a couple of times before he absorbed it and left.”
