Valley City man arrested after allegedly making threats against mosque on social media

LIVERPOOL TWP. — A Liverpool Township resident was recently arrested for allegedly making threats against a mosque on TikTok. According to court documents, an anonymous tip was submitted to the FBI National Threat Operations Center on Nov. 17 about a potential mass shooting threat at a mosque that was posted about on TikTok. The account owner was determined to allegedly be Wyatt Brzoska, 20, of Liverpool Township. It was referred to the Medina County Sheriff's Office and closed after Brzoska and his mother were interviewed, court documents state. He stated that the threats were a joke and said he did not possess firearms. Afterward, Brzoska allegedly made other posts featuring symbols used by far-right groups and mentioning Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people in a mass shooting at two mosques in 2019 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Court documents state FBI agents interviewed him on Nov. 26, in which he allegedly again said that the posts were a joke. At this time, he allegedly admitted to owning firearms and stated his intention of deleting his TikTok account. Then, on March 11, the FBI received a tip about a TikTok user who made videos that indicated the person behind the account could be planning an attack on a Columbia Station mosque. According to court documents, the user was identified as Brzoska, who allegedly posted videos of himself in tactical gear with bladed weapons and firearms on the account. He allegedly posted a video on March 10 where he was wearing clothes that looked like military fatigues, and he zoomed in on a mosque with the text on the video stating "You will feel it." Court documents also state Brzoska was allegedly communicating with a minor with whom they shared similar interests and worldviews. He allegedly outlined a plan to attack a mosque and admitted to scouting it out when talking to the minor. FBI agents identified the minor as a 15-year-old girl from Utah, according to court documents. When interviewed by FBI agents, she allegedly confirmed the TikTok posts and messages from Brzoska. "(The 15-year-old girl) also told agents that Brzoska looked up to Brenton Tarrant and that his goal was to kill more people than Tarrant," court documents state. "(The 15-year-old girl) warned the agents that she thought Brzoska was serious about what he planned to do and even if he went away to prison, he would conduct an attack when (he) got out." Brzoska was arrested on March 14 at the farm supply store where he worked on charges of making interstate threatening communication and for being an "unlawful user" of a controlled substance while possessing firearms. "He told agents that the posts were a joke, and that he just wanted to get back at the people who made videos targeting him as a Christian," court documents state. "He claimed that he made the posts intentionally vague so that they would be up to the viewers' interpretation; however, Brzoska admitted that he hoped and intended that viewers would be scared by his posts." On March 16, Brzoska allegedly said he ordered some of his guns online and sent them to a local gun store. He also allegedly said he was not being honest about his marijuana use when he filled out the form. Court documents state that since he allegedly admits to using marijuana daily, "it is unlawful for Brzoska to possess firearms or ammunition which have been shipped or transported in interstate commerce." FBI agents executed a search warrant of his home on March 14, where they allegedly found 10 firearms and about 700 rounds of ammunition in his bedroom. "The firearms were not secure, and all were loaded," court documents state. "Agents also found multiple knives, tactical vests, gloves and a mask. One of the rifles had Nazi symbols such as 'SS' and a swastika written on it." Brozska made his first appearance in federal court on March 16. Court documents state that on March 19, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing but did not waive his right to a detention hearing. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.