Paralegal Arrested for Plotting to Bomb Migrant Shelter
A 27-year-old paralegal at the Queens District Attorney’s office, Derek Klever, has been arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child, among other counts, after attempting to make an explosive to bomb a migrant shelter located across from his apartment.
Background
According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday, Klever, who worked as a trial preparation assistant at the DA’s office, had grown frustrated with partying at the Kamway Lodge in Elmhurst, a small hostel that the city has been using to temporarily house migrants arriving from the U.S. southern border with Mexico.
Plot to Create Explosive
Klever confided to an unnamed acquaintance that he had purchased fireworks and was going to combine their contents with nails, gasoline, and other materials to create rudimentary explosives. He claimed he had tested a version of the homemade explosive and was considering using a drone to drop multiple bombs on the unsuspecting residents in the shelter.
Search and Discovery
Police said Klever’s fiancé consented to a search of the apartment earlier this week, where they recovered a BB gun in a child’s bedroom and various fireworks inside a closet in a larger bedroom. Subsequent searches turned up other bomb-making materials, including explosive substances from disassembled fireworks that had been wrapped in tin foil, long nail cartridges that were also wrapped in foil, BB pellets, and green wire.
Arrest and Charges
Klever was arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child, among other counts. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday, and his next court date is Oct. 4.
Reactions and Consequences
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz’s office declined to comment, saying Klever has been fired and the investigation is ongoing. Murad Awawdeh, president of the New York Immigration Coalition, which advocates for migrants, said the case underscores how anti-immigrant rhetoric promoted by some city leaders can lead to violence. The city shelter system currently houses more than 60,000 migrants and has taken in more than 200,000 total since the spring of 2022.
Conclusion
The case highlights the importance of addressing anti-immigrant rhetoric and promoting tolerance and understanding. It is crucial that our leaders work to create a safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of their immigration status.
FAQs
Q: What was the motive behind Klever’s actions?
A: According to the criminal complaint, Klever was frustrated with partying at the migrant shelter and wanted to “teach them a lesson.”
Q: What was the extent of Klever’s bomb-making materials?
A: Klever had various bomb-making materials, including explosive substances from disassembled fireworks, long nail cartridges, BB pellets, and green wire.
Q: What are the consequences for Klever’s actions?
A: Klever has been arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child, among other counts. He has also been fired from his job at the Queens District Attorney’s office.
