Man Gives Death Threat To Zohran Mamdani: ‘Hope Your Wife, Kids Are Murdered In Front Of You’

Last Updated:September 19, 2025, 09:00 IST

Zohran Mamdani Death Threat: The man, from Texas, even said that he would love to see the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) shoot a bullet into New York City mayoral frontrunner’s head.

Zohran Mamdani, frontrunner for the post of the New York City mayor, received death threats from a Texas man Jeremy Fistel. Fistel was arrested. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

New York City’s mayoral candidate and Democrat Zohran Mamdani received a death threat from a Texas man. The man, according to NBC News, who first reported the development, made the threats via phone and also via a written text.

The man has been arrested on Thursday the Queens district attorney told the broadcaster and was arraigned on a 22-count grand jury indictment, the US broadcaster said. The broadcaster said that the man named Jeremy Fistel was charged with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, aggravated harassment and related charges and had made the threats between June and July this year.

Fistel on June 18 sent a message through Mamdani’s website and wished him terminal cancer and an imminent “painful death."

“I’d love to see an IDF bullet go through your skull," the message read, according to court documents accessed by the broadcaster. “Would be even better if you had to watch your wife and kids murdered in front you before they end your pathetic miserable life…I hope you all die painful sudden deaths. Do us all a favor and kill yourself."

A few weeks after the first threatening voicemail, prosecutors said a second message containing similar threats was left. Mamdani’s staff had reported the initial call to the police on June 18, the day it was received.

Investigators found that Fistel had blocked his caller ID, but they eventually traced the calls to his cellphone. A message sent via the website was also linked to his email account, the complaint states.

Fistel was arrested last week in Texas and extradited to Queens on Wednesday. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years if convicted of the top charge. His lawyer could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Prosecutors highlighted the series of threats as evidence in the case.

“The defendant told the assemblyman to go back to Uganda before someone shoots him in the head, to keep an eye on his house and family, to watch his back every second until he leaves America, and that he and his relatives deserve to die," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...

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News world Man Gives Death Threat To Zohran Mamdani: ‘Hope Your Wife, Kids Are Murdered In Front Of You’

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