Daniel Scott Jennings is in the Otter Tail County
Detention Center following his arrest on June 11, 2022, on
a charge of making terroristic threats.Contributed

Fergus Falls man arrested after making mass shooting threats in online game

Daniel Scott Jennings made threats involving "Second Life" game players from outside of Minnesota, according to police.

By Edward Era Barbacena

A 32-year-old man is in custody after threatening to kill other players in an online game.

Daniel Scott Jennings was arrested in the early hours of Saturday, June 11, after making a series of threatening comments the night of Friday, June 10, Chief Kile Bergren of the Fergus Falls Police Department said Tuesday, June 14.

Jennings was being held in the Otter Tail County Detention Center on a charge of making terroristic threats, Bergren said.

"We got a series of calls on him," the chief said. "The threats originally were somewhat veiled or vague."

Later, the threats became more specific, and police arrested Jennings in a Fergus Falls home.

Police found "quite a few weapons" in the house, Bergren said, noting Jennings was cooperative.

The threats were not against anyone local but were made against other players in the online game "Second Life," he said.

"The individuals that he targeted were not local individuals," Bergren said. "They were out of state."

There was speculation that Jennings' reference to a mass shooting might somehow involve the local Summer Fest celebration that was going on in Fergus Falls at the time, but that was not the case, the chief said.

"His threats to individuals were very specific," Bergren said. "He was going to kill these people. It had to do with the game. He felt he was somehow wronged by players in the game."

" Second Life " describes itself as a virtual reality, role-playing game. The game's website advises, "Expect the Unexpected" and adds:

"With thousands of virtual experiences and communities, you'll never run out of places to explore and people to meet. Music clubs, roleplaying communities, virtual cinemas and more. Second Life is always wonderful, sometimes weird, and 100% wow-worthy."

"We're working with authorities in these other states," Bergren said. "We have an ongoing investigation."