Cape Coral man arrested for making a mass shooting threat

Cape Coral police have arrested a man they say sent a text to someone threatening a mass shooting.

Police arrested Ira Dennis Crosser Jr., 55, at his home on Lucaya Drive just after 2 p.m. on Thursday.

Detectives with the Cape Coral Police Department say they received information from another law enforcement agency that Crosser Jr. had sent a text message saying he would “make Texas and Highland Park” look like “child’s play.”

Police say the person who reported the threat told them they were concerned because of Crosser Jr’s alleged violent tendencies and access to weapons.

Crosser Jr told a judge on Friday that he had no intention of hurting anyone. He said he was experiencing turmoil in a relationship with a close friend and wrote the threat in an angry outburst.

WINK News spoke with his neighbors and, although they don’t believe he’s capable of carrying out the threat, they say there’s no excuse for making those kinds of threats.

At his first appearance, Crosser Jr. told the judge he moved to Cape Coral to work on improving his mental health.

“I’m not that person. I have no intent, no want, no need to harm another person. I’ve grown with my mental defect to the point that I don’t even want to harm myself,” said Crosser Jr. during his first appearance.

Cape Coral police say they confirmed Crosser Jr. wrote the text where he tells someone to keep an eye on the news.

“I was angry because I was jealous and in fear of losing my friend, my life-long friend in Tampa. I made a comment. Ignorance is not an excuse. I know that there’s bad things going on in our society,” said Crosser Jr.

Neighbors describe Crosser Jr. as talkative and friendly, but they can’t defend what was written.

“You can’t take it as a joke these days. You never know what someone’s going to do,” said Kelsey.

“People take stuff serious from past events that have happened. You know, you can never be too careful now,” said a neighbor who wanted to remain anonymous.

Another neighbor described Crosser Jr. as ‘generous’ saying he would buy groceries for other neighbors in need, but they say all threats, including this one, have to be taken seriously.

“I would definitely call the police. I mean, I have a 4-year-old. You know, I have a little boy to take care of. There’s a little boy next door to me. Especially in such close proximity. I would definitely let the police know, yeah,” said Kelsey.

Crosser Jr. told the judge he is willing to do anything to better himself.

“What’s crushing me is in this anger, I forgot that I have two loving dogs at home. And I’m being crushed with the unwillingness of what is going to happen to my children because of my anger outburst,” said Crosser Jr.

Crosser Jr.’s neighbors said they’re taking care of his two dogs while he remains behind bars.

He is facing a charge for making a written threat to conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.

He is being held in the Lee County Jail on a $25,000 bond and he will be back in court in one month.