Eldo Kim, 20, was in U.S. District Court yesterday for a hearing in regards to a bomb threat he imposed on Harvard University earlier this week. Released on $100,000 bond into the custody of his sister, Kim expressed that the bomb scare was nothing more than the result of tremendous academic pressure.
According to a report by the Associated Press, Kim’s lawyers contend that he is remorseful for his actions but was also struggling with the weight of final exams as well as the third anniversary of his father’s death.
“It’s finals time at Harvard,” stated Ian Gold, the federal public defender assigned to Kim’s case. “In one way, we’re looking at the post-9/11 equivalent of pulling a fire alarm. Certainly I’m not saying the government response was unjustified, but it’s important to keep in mind we’re dealing with a 20-year-old man who was under a great deal of pressure.”
On Monday, Kim sent an email to the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD), two Harvard University officials, and the president of the Harvard Crimson conveying the same cryptic message to each:
“shrapnel bombs placed in:
science center
sever hall
emerson hall
thayer hall
2/4. guess correctly.
be quick for they will go off soon”
All four buildings mentioned were immediately evacuated and swept by HUPD, Cambridge Police, Massachusetts State Police, FBI and Secret Service only to report that all was clear some five hours later.
Naturally, the Greater Boston Area is still plagued by the memory of the tragic Boston Marathon bombing back in April in which two pressure cooker bombs teeming with shrapnel exploded on Bolyston Street, killing three on the scene and injuring 264. So when an ominous email containing the words “shrapnel bomb” is dispatched, it’s no surprise the school undertook the measures it did – calling in federal authorities and exercising the utmost caution in relaying students to safety.
It came to light when the anonymous emails were traced back to Kim that he was unprepared for his final exam scheduled on Monday and orchestrated the threat as a means of abstaining from the test. He literally sat in Emerson Hall, one of the four evacuated, and waited until students were escorted to safety and the building abandoned.
Under the bomb hoax statute, Kim faces penalties of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. It’s unclear at this time what sentence prosecutors will seek and when Kim will be in court again. Stay tuned to BostInno for the latest details and information.
