South Carolina Man Charged with Threatening Journalist

Austin Suman, a 35-year-old man from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has been charged with making violent threats against a New York journalist and her family, motivated by an article she wrote about his previous gun-related arrest. On November 8, 2024, Suman sent a series of threatening messages via Facebook and email, including explicit threats to blow up her house and racial slurs targeting her ethnicity and gender. He boasted about owning more firearms, including fully automatic weapons, claiming all his guns had been returned to him since his earlier arrest. Suman was arrested on November 15 and faces charges of interstate stalking and willfully making threats involving explosives, with a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the seriousness of the threats against the press, stating that such actions will not be tolerated. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding threats to journalists, especially those reporting on sensitive issues.