The Cornell University student accused of making violent threats against his Jewish peers is a 21-year-old engineering student who suffered from such “severe depression” that his mother feared he was on the verge of suicide moments before he was arrested.
Patrick Dai, a junior at the prestigious university, was arrested by federal authorities on Tuesday for allegedly making a string of disturbing online posts over the weekend threatening to kill and rape Jewish students and to “bring an assault rifle onto campus.”
Investigators traced the uncontrolled posts to Dai’s IP address at his off-campus apartment, where he allegedly confessed to the crime, according to a federal complaint obtained by NBC News.
Dai’s parents, however, believe their son is innocent.
“My son suffers from severe depression. He could not control his emotions well because of depression. No, I don’t think he committed the crime,” his father, who asked that his name not be used, told The Post in a text message.
Dai sank into a deep depression in 2021, a year after he began his engineering studies at the prestigious university, his parents said.
He entered the school as one of five National Merit Scholars named at Pittsford-Mendon High School and as a 12-time AP Scholar who also logged volunteer time at Rochester General Hospital.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul spoke at the Center for Jewish Life at Cornell on Monday, Oct. 30. Governor Kathy Hochul
At Cornell, Dai worked as an undergraduate consultant helping to tutor other engineering students with MATLAB, a computer programming language, and as director of logistics for the school’s Science Olympiad.
Dai also worked as an orientation leader and was promoted to supervisor after just two months on the job, according to his LinkedIn.
Dai underwent a dramatic change after just a year, his parents said — though they emphatically emphasized that he had never had a history of violence.
“He was always very good to the community, organized, helped my family and his classmates before 2021,” said his father.
“He told us he lost his purpose and motivation in life … As parents, we tried to give him more love.”
Under the doctor’s recommendation, Dai completed his studies for two semesters – in the spring of 2022 and 2023 – to try and rehabilitate himself, but struggled to regain his ambition.
Dai’s communications with his parents went dark in the days before his arrest, around the time he allegedly posted unhinged threats to “shoot up 104 west,” a university dining hall that caters mostly to the Kosher diet, and to “slit the neck” of any Jewish man who he found
“My wife called him or texted him many times but got no response. He was worried he might kill himself and drove to his apartment to see what was going on,” Dai’s father said.
Dai’s father did not believe his son was responsible for the messages posted on the forum because he “couldn’t control his emotions.” X/cbouzy
By the time he made the 80-mile trip to the Ithaca building, Dai had already been arrested.
Instead of his son, he saw several police officers stationed outside his son’s college house.
Although they do not believe their son was responsible for the antisemitic posts, Dai’s parents theorized his depression was somehow linked to the case.
When asked what the connection was, Dai’s father said: “Please contact his doctor for this question. It’s too complicated for me.”
Dai’s communication with his parents went dark just days before his arrest, around the time he allegedly posted uncontrollable threats to “shoot 104 west.”X/cbouzy
Dai is charged with broadcasting threats to kill or injure another person using interstate communications – which could land him up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney.
Dai is scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
