A Florida man’s Facebook threats against President Donald Trump has landed him behind bars. Shannon Depararro Atkins was arrested Friday night during a traffic stop, wrapping up a days-long investigation into his alleged “violent threats,” authorities confirmed.
West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo stated Saturday that Atkins admitted to making social media posts about Trump, claiming they were jokes, as reported by TMZ.
However, Araujo emphasized that such threats are taken seriously, especially in today’s political climate, leading to Atkins’ charges.
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Atkins, 46, of West Palm Beach, is accused of making violent threats online, including a post stating, “America needs one good bullet to be saved.”
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The investigation began after a tip was sent to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, according to police. He was taken into custody Friday night during a traffic stop after a week-long investigation into alleged online threats, including one post advocating violence.
Police said Atkins was found with cocaine at the time of his arrest. He is being held at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and faces these charges: making written or electronic threats, a second-degree felony, and cocaine possession.
The Secret Service is assessing whether Atkins will face federal charges for his alleged threats against Trump.
Trump’s team previously reported nearly a dozen violent threats, including bomb threats, following his 2016 election win. During his reelection campaign, there were also two attempts on Trump’s life.
