Police in West Palm Beach, Florida, arrested a 46-year-old man, Shannon Atkins, who made threats on social media to kill President Donald Trump. The threats were reported to police on January 19, the day before Trump’s inauguration, and Atkins was taken into custody near his home on Friday. He was found with cocaine in his possession and faces charges of making threats to kill the president and possession of cocaine. The Secret Service has been notified of the case and is working with local authorities.
Atkins admitted to writing the Facebook posts but claimed he was joking. Police Chief Tony Araujo emphasized that threats of this nature are not a joke and should be taken seriously, as they have the potential to become real and dangerous. Atkins is currently held at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Main Detention Center.
Araujo urged residents to report any similar threats to the police or FBI to prevent potential harm. The case has raised concerns about the seriousness of online threats and the need for swift action to address them before they escalate. The collaboration between local and federal law enforcement agencies highlights the importance of taking all threats seriously, especially in the current political climate.
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