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Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on January 26, 2025
Man allegedly threatens to kill President Donald Trump, arrested by Florida police
Police arrested Atkins near his home in West Palm Beach on Friday night. Police informed that Atkins was found with the possession of three packets of cocaine in his pocket.
President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One en route to Florida at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Saturday. (AP Photo)
A 46-year-old man was arrested from West Palm Beach in Florida by the police on Saturday for allegedly threatening to kill US President Donald Trump in social media posts.
According to Police Chief Tony Araujo, they received a tip on January 19, just a day before Trump took oath of office, that a person named Shannon Atkins lodged threats against Trump in posts on Facebook.
“They were violent rhetoric, political views and his opinion aimed at the president,” Police Chief Araujo said on the nature of threats in a press briefing.
Police arrested Atkins near his home in West Palm Beach on Friday night. Araujo informed that Atkins was found with the possession of three packets of cocaine in his pocket. The US Secret Service has been informed about the case.
President Donald Trump departs after speaking about the economy during an event at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. (AP Photo)
Atkins has been charged with one count of written or electronic threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, a second-degree felony and charges of possession of cocaine, according to the West Palm Beach police’s official statement, NBC News reported.
A Secret Service official said that the agency has been working with the West Palm Beach police and that “given the particulars of the investigation and the threat, it was decided to take the case locally with Florida state charges,” quoted NBC News.
Police said that Atkins is detained at Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office Main Detention Centre. Police Chief Arujo informed that Atkins accepted to have written the Facebook post threatening to kill President Trump but added that he was just joking.
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