Donald Trump
Florida's 'violent threats' against president on FB lead to arrest
Published
A Florida man is now behind bars after allegedly making “violent threats” to the president Donald Trump via Facebook.
Shannon Sapparro Atkins was arrested Friday night during a traffic stop, per police … after an investigation that began days earlier.
West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo I spoke to the media on Saturday…after they spoke to Atkins, he allegedly admitted to making a series of posts about Trump – and claimed they were just jokes.
But Chief Araujo says posts like these are never jokes – especially in today's political climate – and that's why they charged Atkins.
The 46-year-old West Palm Beach resident is accused of making “violent” threats online … with one of the posts reading “America needs a good bullet to be saved.”
Atkins' post allegedly began the investigation after someone contacted the FBI National Threat Operations Center with a tip, police said.
An investigation into the alleged locations began Monday … and by Friday evening, the suspect was in custody following a traffic stop … during which Atkins was allegedly in possession of cocaine.
The suspect is currently being held at the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office Major Annual Center in Palm Beach… facing 2 charges – including one count of making written or electronic threats to kill, causing physical harm, or committing a mass shooting or act of terrorism, a second-degree Crime.
He is also charged with possession of cocaine.
The Secret Service will determine whether Atkins will face federal charges.
Trump's team announced in November after winning the election that there were Nearly a dozen violent threats to his team and his appointees… including bomb threats.
07/13/24
There were also two attempts on Trump's life during the re-election campaign.