Detroit Man Who Threatened to “Shoot Up” the Detroit Job Corps Center Pleads Guilty to Making Threats

DETROIT – A Detroit man who made phone calls threatening to kill students at the Detroit Job Corps Center pleaded guilty today to making threats in interstate commerce, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).

Elroy Knott, 24, pleaded guilty to threatening the Detroit Job Corps Center before United States District Judge Denise Page Hood.  The Detroit Job Corps Center (“DJCC”) is a United States Department of Labor program that provides job training to individuals between the ages of 16-24.  Besides providing free tuition, the DJCC offers room and board to students, with the majority of students residing at the campus.  The DJCC houses approximately 300 students. 

On April 24, and 26, 2022, Knott made multiple telephone calls to the DJCC during which he threatened to “shoot up” the place and to kill residents.  He also threatened to shoot one employee in the back of the head.  Following the threats on April 26, 2022, the DJCC campus was locked down for forty-eight hours, and its activities were substantially disrupted.  Knott was in a relationship with one of the students at the DJCC, and he had previously made threats and been in the possession of firearms.       

Knott faces a maximum of five years in prison for making the threats. 

“The defendant terrorized students and staff at the Detroit Job Corps Center,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.  “We will not tolerate such conduct, and we will do everything in our power to protect schools from the threat of violence.”

“Threats to terrorize the safety of our community will never be acceptable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, “ATF will remain vigilant in our commitment to public safety, whether by threat or actions, we will collaborate with the U.S. Attorney’s office, our federal, state, and local partners to bring those responsible to justice.”

“Elroy Knott threatened to harm Job Corps students and staff. His conduct caused significant disruption to learning at the Detroit Job Corps. Ensuring that Job Corps students can learn in a safe environment is a high priority for the Department of Labor. The Office of Inspector General will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who threaten DOL students, employees, and contractors,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, DOL-OIG.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the Detroit Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosemary Wummel Gardey.