Interim Chief Tony Araujo of the West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD) announced Saturday the arrest of a local man accused of making violent threats against President Donald Trump on social media.
During a press conference, Interim Chief Tony Araujo of the West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD) revealed that Shannon Atkins, 46, of West Palm Beach, was taken into custody on January 24 after authorities found a series of threatening posts linked to his social media accounts.
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The investigation began following a tip received by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Threat Operations Center from an individual in Okeechobee on January 19.
Detectives, in collaboration with the FBI, launched a probe into the threats and, after establishing probable cause, apprehended Atkins near his residence around 7:30 p.m. During the arrest, officers discovered three bags of cocaine in his possession.
Atkins is currently being held at the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Main Detention Center without bond. He faces charges of written or electronic threats to kill, inflict bodily harm, or conduct a mass shooting or act of terrorism, a second-degree felony under Florida law. Additionally, he has been charged with cocaine possession.
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“The threats made were not taken lightly,” said Chief Araujo. “In today’s climate, you really can’t say things like this. We have incident after incident, example after example of when these threats become real, and we take them very seriously.”
During questioning, Atkins reportedly told police that his social media posts were meant as a joke. However, law enforcement officials stressed the importance of taking all threats seriously in the current security environment.
The U.S. Secret Service is now reviewing the case to determine whether federal charges will be pursued against Atkins.
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Law enforcement officials urge the public to report any potential threats to authorities immediately, emphasizing that making such statements—whether intended as jokes or not—can carry severe legal consequences.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time.
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