Man Accused of Abbott Northwestern Mass Shooting Threat

Sep 14

A Ham Lake man is facing felony and gross misdemeanor charges after authorities say he threatened to commit a mass shooting at Abbott Northwestern Hospital on Sept. 11.

According to a complaint filed in Anoka County, 44-year-old Than Thanh Lu is charged with felony threats of violence and gross misdemeanor harassment.

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Prosecutors say the FBI notified deputies on Sept. 10 after Lu sent a series of threatening text messages to the president of his former employer, API Group-NAC. Deputies arrested him that same day at his home in Ham Lake, where he declined to provide a statement.

Court records show Lu began sending messages on Sept. 3 and continued daily through Sept. 9. Investigators say the texts, which filled 15 single-spaced pages, included threats of lawsuits, expressions of anger toward the U.S. government and political leaders and multiple threats of violence. On Sept. 8, Lu allegedly sent messages saying that “9/11/2025 will be the day media shows up to this hospital,” and, “The only truth will come out when I die after killing myself after mass shootings at the hospital.”

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The complaint also details that Lu threatened to burn down the American Embassy in Vietnam and wrote that he was willing to die while carrying out the attacks. Prosecutors say his anger stems from a 2018 workplace injury while employed with API Group-NAC and ongoing frustration with the worker’s compensation claim that followed. The API president did not respond to any of the messages and instead contacted federal authorities.

Lu made an initial court appearance Friday where bail was set. Lu posted a $2,500 cash bail with conditions. He must have no contact with the victim, possess no firearms and refrain from alcohol or mood-altering substances.

If convicted, Lu faces up to five years in prison on the felony threats of violence charge and up to one year in jail on the harassment charge. His next court appearance is scheduled for October.

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