BYU Fan Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Shoot ‘Anyone Wearing Red’ Ahead of Utah Rivalry Game

College football rivalries can get heated, and few are as intense as the one between BYU and Utah. The two programs are set to square off in Provo this weekend, but one Cougars fan who planned to attend won’t make it to the stadium after being arrested and charged for allegedly making violent threats online.

The BYU-Utah football rivalry began back in 1896, sparking one of the most storied matchups in college football history. Since then, the two teams have met on the field over 100 times, keeping the “Holy War” alive and fierce for well over a century.

Historically, Utah has had the upper hand in the series, though the two schools don’t agree on the exact numbers. The Utes claim a 62-36-4 advantage, while BYU lists it as 59-33-4, refusing to recognize six early contests played before 1922 following a long break in the rivalry.

Each era of the rivalry has had a dominant side. Utah controlled the matchup from 1898 to 1941 with a 21-game unbeaten run before BYU took over in the 1970s. The competition evened out in the 1990s, but Utah again dominated in the early 2000s until recent years saw BYU flip the script once more.

Now, as BYU enters this year’s Holy War riding a two-game win streak, the 15th-ranked Cougars aim to stretch it to three, while No. 23 Utah looks to end their unbeaten start and reclaim bragging rights. The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown filled with emotion and tension between the rival fanbases.

However, one fan took that tension too far, drawing criminal charges after making alarming threats before the game.

A BYU supporter has been arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot Utah fans attending the upcoming Holy War. According to KUTV, 28-year-old Christopher Justice of Huntington, Utah, was taken into custody after posting a series of disturbing tweets under the handle “@juiceisloose328.”

Justice reportedly began his rant with, “I’ll be in LES [LaVell Edwards Stadium] Saturday. Any Ute fan I see is dead. Mark my words.” When another user urged him to stop, he escalated by responding, “nah anyone wearing red is getting shot.”

A man identified only as Spencer told reporters he contacted authorities about the tweets, leading to an investigation. The Utah Department of Public Safety traced the posts back to Justice, who initially denied sending them. But after officers found incriminating evidence on his iPad and phone, including deleted texts admitting his plan to deny the tweets, he confessed.

Already on probation for multiple DUIs, Justice now faces misdemeanor charges for making violent threats and obstructing justice. Following a court appearance, he was released under home confinement with an ankle monitor — ensuring he won’t be anywhere near LaVell Edwards Stadium this Saturday.