Georgia man threatening to behead porn star live on Periscope arrested

A 25-year-old Georgia man was arrested and charged after he allegedly threatened to kill and behead a former porn star live on Periscope. Brian Blankenship, who was reportedly inspired by the brutal on-air shooting of a Virginia news crew in August, said he would put the adult film star's "bloody head on a stick".

The FBI claims Blankenship messaged Malena Morgan just a day after the on-air shooting. He allegedly wrote: "When you walk out of your house and see me it will be too late...Your next periscope will be your bloody head on a stick." Blankenship said he would carry out the shooting on Periscope, an app that allows users to live stream video from their phones.

According to The Daily Beast, Blankenship used the handle @brianfalcons48 on Periscope and the email address wrestlemania17@yahoo.com to send the threats. In one email, he wrote, "I hope you have protection...I have a 9mm and a shotgun your dead b***h and you won't see me coming". The deranged would-be killer said he would "periscope you're undoing it's raw and I will take my own life after you've life is gone."

The 25-year-old was arrested on 8 October for "transmitting in interstate commerce a communication threatening to injure an identified individual". Morgan was reportedly not the only porn star to be threatened by Blankenship, but she is the only one who reported it to law enforcement.

Jenna J Ross, a close friend of Morgan's, told The Daily Beast she became Blankenship's target after Morgan blocked him on social media. "Because she's my best friend he decided to come after me as well. By proxy, I became target number two," she said. "When Malena blocked him on social media he couldn't get to her anymore, so he turned it around on me. The best way to hurt her would be to hurt me."

Ross said she did not report his threats because she felt he did not have the means to follow through with them. Blankenship pled not guilty to the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 (£161,630) fine.