Utah Man Who Threatened Manhattan Synagogue Declares Himself “Hitler Reincarnated” in Terrorism Case

By: Fern Sidman

A Utah man who allegedly threatened to carry out a mass shooting at a prominent Manhattan synagogue claimed he was “Hitler reincarnated” and vowed to kill Jews in a disturbing series of social media posts, according to prosecutors. As The New York Post reported on Thursday, Luis Ramirez, 23, was arraigned on terrorism and hate crime charges in Manhattan following his extradition from New Jersey.

Prosecutors told the court that Ramirez made chilling online threats in which he promised to kill “as many Jews as I killed in [World War II],” specifically targeting Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan. The New York Post report noted that these posts, made on the platform X (formerly Twitter), were flagged by authorities, leading to his swift arrest.

During the arraignment, Assistant District Attorney David Stuart stated that Ramirez had expressed his belief that he was the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler, a claim that fueled his violent rhetoric. The New York Post further reported that Ramirez entered the courtroom with a sinister grin, an unsettling display that called attention to the gravity of the charges against him.

Ramirez’s arrest took place on February 14 when Port Authority police stopped him at the Lincoln Tunnel as he attempted to cross into Manhattan. The New York Post reported that authorities did not find any weapons in his vehicle at the time of his arrest, but his threatening social media activity was deemed serious enough to warrant immediate action.

Following his arrest, Ramirez was held in New Jersey while awaiting extradition to New York. Prosecutors stated that, during his time in custody, he exhibited signs of paranoia and delusions, even referring to himself as “different biblical characters” in recorded prison phone calls. His mental state raised additional concerns about his stability and potential for violence.

Given the severity of the threats and Ramirez’s apparent psychological instability, prosecutors requested that he undergo a mental health evaluation in addition to being remanded without bail. Judge Julieta Lozano granted both requests, according to The New York Post report.

Ramirez’s defense attorney, Sergio De La Pava of the New York County Defender Services, did not contest the mental health evaluation. After speaking with Ramirez and his family, he agreed that such an assessment was appropriate. The New York Post report indicated that Ramirez had previously been discharged from a military officer cadet training program in Virginia for psychological reasons, further raising concerns about his mental state.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who was present at the arraignment, strongly condemned Ramirez’s actions and emphasized his office’s commitment to combating anti-Semitism. The New York Post report quoted Bragg as stating, “Any form of anti-Semitism is despicable, and I want Manhattan’s Jewish community to know we are remaining extremely vigilant.”

Bragg also confirmed that Ramirez is facing significant terrorism and hate crime charges and has been remanded into custody. If convicted of making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, Ramirez could face up to 15 years in prison.

Ramirez is scheduled to appear in court again on March 20. In the meantime, authorities are likely to continue investigating his activities, including whether he had any accomplices or connections to extremist groups.

With anti-Semitic incidents on the rise, this case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by radicalized individuals who use digital platforms to spread violent ideologies.