N.Y.-based Korean interior designer arrested after threatening mass shooting

June 9, 2014

By Ham Ji-ha

New York — A Korean interior architect based in New York City was arrested May 29 for threatening to stage a mass shooting at his workplace, the New York Police Department said Friday.

Kon Jang, 35, was arrested at his apartment on charges of making a terroristic threat after a concerned colleague informed the NYPD and the District Attorney’s Office of his alleged plans.

In the NYPD report, the unnamed witness told police that Jang had said he “had bought a gun, that he was planning something, that it was going to be a tragedy, that he wanted to be on the news.”

The witness told police she saw Jang draw “Xs” at employees’ seats on a diagram of their office with a list detailing the calibers of rounds of ammunition, the report said.

NYPD found an assault rifle and fake rounds of ammunition at Jang’s apartment. He is currently being held in a detention center on a $10,000 bail.

Jang graduated from the Chelsea College of Art and Design at the University of the Arts London, as well as from the Rhode Island School of Design, before starting work at his architecture and interior design firm last year.