A 46-year-old Florida man was taken into custody Friday evening with a bunch of cocaine after allegedly posting alarming threats concentrating on former President Donald Trump on social media platforms.
The arrest unfolded throughout an odd site visitors cease in West Palm Seashore — a group synonymous with sunshine and seaside calm however now on the middle of a tense federal investigation.
Authorities mentioned Shannon Depararro Atkins’ on-line tirades, which included references to assassinations of previous U.S. leaders, despatched shockwaves by way of regulation enforcement channels after being flagged to the FBI’s Nationwide Menace Operations Heart.
Certainly one of his extra disturbing Fb posts reportedly learn, “Lincoln, JFK, Reagan, Martin Luther King and Trump — sadly, one continues to be alive.”
One other amplified violent rhetoric, calling for “Bullets, please. Please Jesus! Save America.” Detectives linked Atkins to the threats on January 20 and swiftly launched surveillance.
Their efforts culminated in a site visitors cease Friday at about 7:30 p.m., the place Atkins was driving a white 2013 BMW close to his dwelling.
Throughout the cease, officers reportedly discovered medicine in his possession — three baggage of cocaine — which resulted in a further cost for drug possession.
Atkins was arrested on a second-degree felony rely of written or digital threats to kill, hurt, or conduct an act of terrorism.
Investigators emphasised that the violent rhetoric couldn’t be dismissed as mere jokes, given two earlier assassination makes an attempt on Trump in 2024.
Atkins, who admitted to creating the posts however claimed they had been made in jest, now faces rigorous scrutiny, with the U.S. Secret Service investigating whether or not he’ll face federal expenses.
His Fb exercise additionally revealed a predisposition to political commentary, with references aligning him with Democratic leanings. Notably, Atkins had shared a photograph of himself sporting a “Harris-Walz 2024” T-shirt in a put up final 12 months.
The arrest, which unfolded simply miles from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property, has sparked a polarizing debate on social media.
Whereas some customers recommended regulation enforcement for taking decisive motion, others argued that Atkins’ feedback, nonetheless distasteful, didn’t rise to the extent of actionable threats.
“The place was the menace? He by no means said “I” or an “I’ll” I’m sorry however weak case sadly,” one consumer famous, whereas one other fumed”That fool must be on fixed watch trigger he’s loopy and little doubt a democrat!!!”
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