Los Angeles man arrested over Twitter threat to shoot random pedestrian

Los Angeles: A 20-year-old man has been arrested in Los Angeles, after posting on Twitter that he would shoot a random pedestrian.

The police even stated ‘Dakkari Dijon McAnuff also posted a photo of a rifle resting on what appeared to be an upper floor balcony railing, pointed down at a darkened street.’

According to police, McAnuff also posted, ‘100 RT's (retweets) and I'll shoot someone walking.’

Police said that the air rifle which shoots pellets or BBs using compressed air, could still cause injury and pose a threat. "It still alarms people, it looks lethal. It's no different than someone who walks into a store with a fake butcher knife. It could be made of rubber, but that still scares people." said Richard French, Los Angeles police spokesman.

McAnuff was jailed on suspicion of making criminal threats and is being held on $50,000 bail. It was not clear if McAnuff had retained a lawyer. Los Angeles Times also reported that the Twitter account police used to post the threat has been taken down.

On another Twitter page listed under McAnuff's name someone posted after his arrest, "This account is being managed by Dakkari's close friends. This will be his new account."