A troubled East Bremerton man has been arrested for felony harassment after making repeated threats on Facebook to kill a former manager at a Silverdale restaurant and many others in an effort to “top the Aurora massacre.”

Nicholas Adam Purcell, 26, asked officers to take him to a mental hospital at he was arrested, according to authorities. He told police that he didn’t want to hurt anyone, “but his mind was telling him to.”

Purcell was booked into the Kitsap County Jail on $100,000 bail for the felony harassment and on $1,000 bail for an outstanding drug charge.

The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office was first alerted to Purcell’s threats by Silverdale Red Lobster employee Kristina D. Carr, 22, at 9 p.m. Friday.

Carr, who is studying psychology, told deputies she doesn’t usually respond to messages from Purcell, who was fired from the restaurant in January, but his postings on Friday became increasingly concerning.

“When I was able to read all of the many messages that Nicholas sent today I found several references to the recent mass murders in Aurora, Colorado,” wrote Deputy Sonya Matthews in a police report. “There were several statements about being sympathetic to the Colorado murders and wishing he had been able to kill more victims.”

Purcell’s messages also made specific threats toward his former manager Corey Smith.

“I’ve warned Corey about how he can prevent disaster from happening or I was going to top the Aurora massacre with over 100 victims instead of 60 like the Batman one.  You better call the cops or have Corey come see me, or I am going to flash the [expletive] out on whaling days crowd because you [expletive] fakes never give me a job or a chance.”  He also wrote, “Another mass shooting is about to happen unless Corey diffuses it watch.”

Purcell said he was ready to die and hoped that coworkers would dissuade him from violence, according to police.

“I hope you and Corey are able to come up with a good plan for me or I will go thru and kill as many people as I can,” and “I’m serious tho people are so ‘explative’ dead watch and there is nothing the US government can do to stop me.”

According to a police report, Purcell made several statements about shooting Smith and committing suicide. He also said he that he was serious and that people should notify the police. He wrote “I’m going to have to murder him (Corey) in cold blood before I shoot everyone at the olive garden then KILL MYSELF.”

Deputy Matthews said she was unable to contact Smith, but noted in her report that several other Red Lobster employees had also received threats.

Deputy Matthews contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and an agent told Matthews that, after consulting with her partner, she did not believe that the U.S. Attorney’s Office would file charges. The FBI agent, though, asked for ongoing updates

The next day, after finding probable cause for his arrest for felony harassment, along with his outstanding arrest warrant on a drug charge, deputies headed to Purcell’s East Bremerton residence where they were met at the door by Purcell’s mom. A few minutes later, Purcell emerged holding his shoes and socks and said that he needed help.

“I asked him if he wanted to hurt himself and he said he didn’t, but his mind was telling him otherwise,” Deputy Lee Watson said “I asked if he wanted to hurt anyone else and he said he wouldn’t, but his mind was telling him to.”

Purcell admitted to police that he previously has a .22 cal rifle but had sold it to a local gun shop a few years ago.

Police said Purcell asked his mother to turn over his laptop to police. Purcell was transported to the jail and considered suicidal.