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Police: Man threatened to kill women at UW

By KIRO 7 STAFF
By KIRO 7 STAFF

Quick Facts: 

  • UW student arrested after threats to kill women.
  • Suspect praised Elliot Rodger, who killed students in California last month.
  • Held on $150,001 bail after Monday court hearing.
  • FBI involved; charges expected this week.

A Seattle man who was arrested after making threats to kill women at the University of Washington idolized Elliot Rodger, the deranged young man who killed innocent college students last month in California, police said.

Keshav Bhide, 23, used YouTube and Google+ to praise Rodger, saying in one message that “everything Elliot did is perfectly justified.”

Rodger killed seven people and wounded another 13 during a May 23 rampage in Isla Vista, California.

Court documents show Bhide’s comments were made before and after a mentally ill gunman killed one student and wounded two others June 5 at Seattle Pacific University.

University of Washington police were alerted to Bhide's comments online and involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Agents tracked his screen name to an apartment at 1128 N.E. 41st Street, near the University of Washington.

Court documents show Bhide is a UW student. He was expected to graduate this year, and was arrested Saturday afternoon.

Earlier this month, anonymous threats were made to UW sororities referencing the shootings in California. Chalk outlines were also left outside some UW sororities. It is not clear if Bhide was connected to those incidents.

In his online messages, Bhide ranted against women saying he would make sure he would kill only them. Another commenter told him to “please just call an escort service,” and gave details for how he could avoid losing his life or going to jail.

Bhide responded that he would “execute the same thing" as Elliot Rodger and that he had “no option,” according to court documents. Police said he used the screen name “Foss Dark.”

Bhide is being held on $150,001 bail for investigation of cyberstalking and felony harassment. He is expected to be charged later this week.

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