Man who threatened to blow up Buffalo VA sentenced to time served

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A Buffalo man who admitted to threatening to blow up the city’s Veterans Affairs facility was sentenced to time served, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Demont Coston, 56, called the U.S. Veterans Affairs Crisis Line on Sept. 12, 2023 and made repeated threats to blow up the Buffalo VA facility, according to officials. That same day, Coston again called the crisis line and reportedly stated “I should go blow… I should go burn the building down.”

Two days later, officials said Coston texted the crisis line “The VA haven’t done (expletive) for me in 30 years, it’s time to get rid of it, by any means necessary.” He also stated he would be “Taking out all V.A. facilities, but I have 1 n mind first” and “I’m in DC, near the main VA ha ha ha good, I know where to hit them.”

Coston pleaded guilty to assault upon a federal employee earlier this month.

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the WIVB News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here .