Investigators Say Fingerprints, Surveillance Linked Graduate Student to Threatening Messages
SAN JOSE, Calif. — A San Jose State University graduate student has been arrested on a federal charge alleging false information and hoaxes after investigators linked him to a series of threatening messages that repeatedly disrupted campus operations, the U.S. Department of Justice announced this week.
Fact Checklist
- ✅ Defendant identified as Ziheng “Tony” Fang, 30, of San Jose, California.
- ✅ Charged federally with false information and hoaxes.
- ✅ Initial appearance held July 10 in federal court in San Jose.
- ✅ Criminal complaint filed July 9.
- ✅ Fang is an SJSU graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in data science.
- ✅ Threatening message discovered Nov. 5, 2025.
- ✅ Investigators allege Fang’s fingerprint was found on one of the messages.
- ✅ Complaint alleges more than 20 threatening messages appeared on campus beginning in October 2024.
- ✅ Key card records and surveillance footage are cited as evidence in the complaint.
- ✅ Defendant remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The allegations are contained in a criminal complaint. A complaint is only an allegation, and Fang is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
According to a criminal complaint filed July 9, Ziheng “Tony” Fang, 30, of San Jose, made his initial appearance in federal court on July 10 in San Jose. Fang is pursuing a master’s degree in data science at San Jose State University.
Federal authorities allege Fang wrote a threatening message that was discovered Nov. 5, 2025, inside a men’s restroom on the university campus. The message, displayed inside a plastic cover sheet taped to the wall, began with the words “WARNING! MASS BOMB NEXT WEEK” and included multiple swastika symbols.
Investigators said Fang’s fingerprint was recovered from the document. A second message found in the same restroom allegedly threatened violence against multiple racial and religious groups and referenced planned mass bombings on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12.
According to the complaint, university police documented more than 20 hateful and threatening messages in men’s and gender-neutral restrooms across campus beginning in October 2024. Many of the messages referenced bombs, shootings, knives or specific dates for planned attacks.
Authorities allege electronic key card records placed Fang inside buildings shortly before threatening messages were discovered in 16 of the 18 incidents where access records were available. Investigators also reviewed surveillance video that allegedly showed Fang entering or leaving restroom areas where some of the messages later appeared.
Federal prosecutors said the repeated threats prompted emergency alerts from the university president’s office, caused some professors to cancel in-person classes or switch to virtual instruction, and generated widespread concern among students, faculty and staff. According to the complaint, campus buildings identified in the threats were described as resembling a “ghost town” on several of the specified dates.
Fang remains in federal custody. He was scheduled to appear in federal court on July 13 for identification of counsel before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Nathanael Cousins.