A 33-year-old Hawthorne man was taken into custody Friday night following a series of online threats aimed at TikTok’s Culver City headquarters, Culver City Police Department officials said.
Joseph Mayuyo was identified as the suspect after employees reported multiple threatening messages across social media platforms. On Oct. 3, the company received an additional threat, prompting security to evacuate the TikTok headquarters out of an abundance of caution.
Authorities said Mayuyo continued posting threatening statements online, including a warning that he would not be taken alive if officers attempted to arrest him.
At approximately 10:10 p.m., the Emergency Response Team made contact with Mayuyo while crisis negotiators engaged him in dialogue. After more than 90 minutes, Mayuyo voluntarily exited his residence and was safely taken into custody without incident.
Mayuyo was booked into the Culver City Police Department Jail on suspicion of making criminal threats. Officers executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered items deemed to have evidentiary value.
“This incident demonstrates our department’s strong commitment to ensuring the safety of our community and local businesses,” Culver City Police Chief Jason Sims said. “We take all threats seriously and investigate them thoroughly. Thanks to the coordinated and swift efforts of our officers, detectives, and partnership with the business, this suspect was taken into custody peacefully, preventing any potential harm.”
The police department also thanked TikTok’s security team for their professionalism and quick response during the investigation.
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