Pennsylvania man arrested for threat of terrorism, accused of posting video threatening UVU

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) — A Pennsylvania man was arrested in Summit County for threat of terrorism after he allegedly made a video threatening Utah Valley University and posted it on social media, which he claimed was a joke.

Blake Francis Rogers, 20, was arrested on September 16 on suspicion of threat of terrorism. According to the affidavit of probable cause, he traveled from Pennsylvania to Park City, and he allegedly posted the video while in Park City.

In the video, he identifies himself with his name and says, “I am now beginning my odyssey to Utah Valley University to fulfill my lifelong duty of finally killing woke.”

The video was posted in the early evening of Monday, September 15. The FBI notified the Summit County Sheriff’s Office of the video the next morning, and UVU authorities were also notified.

“If you’re receiving this video, it means that I did not make it back on this trip, and I was defeated by my mortal enemy, the woke mind virus at Utah Valley University, where Charlie Kirk was assassinated,” the video continues. “I hope by seeing this video, you all can understand what made me perform such actions and can view me as the hero that I know I am.”

He ends the video by requesting that a gold statue be erected “in place of Mario the Dragon, on the crossing of Market and I think 31st Street, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.”

Summit County Sheriff’s Office identified where Rogers was staying in Summit County, and they went to the residence, where they learned that Rogers “may” have left earlier in the morning, according to the affidavit. Investigators “believed lives were at risk” and sent out an attempt to locate bulletin to local agencies.

Investigators then learned that Rogers may still be in the home, and he eventually made contact with them at the front door.

Police asked him if he knew why they were there, and he allegedly responded, “Because of the video I posted last night.” He reportedly admitted to making the video and said that it was posted as a joke as an unlisted YouTube video, which he sent to 12 to 15 people.

Rogers also allegedly admitted to “leaning left” without claiming any specific political party, and he said he used the term “woke” as a vague idea. He also told police that the part about not coming back was “clearly a joke.”

He said that “there was no action insinuated in the comments,” according to the affidavit, though he did understand why the FBI would believe this was a credible threat. He also said he knows that the FBI is compiling a list of people making jokes on the internet.

Rogers was arrested and booked in the Summit County Jail.