Louis Shenker, Previously Accused Of Bomb Threat In New York, Arrested In Boca Raton
BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2023) — A so-called “far-right activist”, once accused of making a bomb threat in a popular NY shopping mall, was just arrested in Boca Raton.
According to an arrest affidavit submitted by the Boca Raton Police Department, Louis Shenker was arrested for burglary on Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 when officers responded to a residence for a burglary call. Officers found Shenker sweeping near the front door of a residence while wearing a tzitzis, a religious poncho-style shirt. Shenker told Police he was sweeping as a good deed per the direction of a local Rabbi. Shenker also said he was a member of a Chabad House and that he had permission to be at the Boca Raton residence.
The homeowner had a different story. The husband and wife who live at the residence said that Shenker was a guest at the house for the previous Passover but told him not to return because of his unusual behavior. They told Police that he was not welcome in the home and had no reason to be there.
Police found Shenker to be in possession of several items from inside the house. Police took Shenker into custody and arrested him for burglary.
Previously in the news
The 24-year-old made national headlines in 2021 for making a bomb threat at a busy shopping mall in New York. In that case, Louis Shenker was arrested in New York and charged with making a terroristic threat. Shenker and another man allegedly left a fake bomb on top of a black Tesla and called in a bomb threat to the Queens Place Mall. Investigators say that the car, which was covered in blankets and cardboard boxes, had a “Black Lives Matter” sign taped to it and a dog inside.
In that case, according to the New York District Attorney, the hoax forced the evacuation of the shopping center, businesses had to close, and both foot traffic and motorists were blocked from entering the busy Queens Boulevard corridor. The DA said an NYPD investigation determined the device was not an explosive but was instead a hoax device.
Shenker reportedly mocked the usage of people using various pronouns by listing his as “American / Patriot”. The media labeled him as a “far-right activist” because of his open objection to the Black Lives Matter movement, the use of masks during the coronavirus pandemic, and for often pushing conspiracy theories.
According to court records, Shenker lives at “Chabad House”, which is described as a “home away from home” for Jewish students attending Umass in Amherst, MA. It is unclear what he was doing in Boca Raton, FL prior to being arrested for burglary.
Shenker is being held on a $3,000 bond at the Palm Beach County Jail after being arrested and charged with burglary.
