Key Takeaways:

• Shannon Depararra Atkins, 46, was arrested for making violent threats against President Trump on social media.
• Atkins faces charges of written or electronic threats to kill and drug possession following his arrest during a traffic stop.
• The Secret Service is involved to assess potential federal charges against Atkins.
• Atkins claimed his threats were "just joking," but police emphasized the seriousness of such statements.
• The investigation began after a tip was sent to the FBI from a concerned citizen.

A Florida man, Shannon Depararra Atkins, aged 46, has been taken into custody for allegedly making threats against President Donald Trump through social media platforms. The arrest occurred late Friday following a traffic stop near his home in West Palm Beach, close to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. According to police reports, the investigation began when a tip was received by the FBI from a resident in Okeechobee, Florida. This tipster reported that Atkins had made troubling posts hinting at the desire to assassinate the President, including references to other historical assassinations, which the local police chief described as “violent rhetoric.”

West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo stated that Atkins posted statements such as “Bullets, please. Jesus save America,” on Facebook, leading authorities to take immediate action. Although Atkins initially claimed that his posts were meant as jokes, Araujo firmly asserted, “Folks, this is not a joke. Nothing of that sort is a joke.” The police conducted a search during the traffic stop, where they discovered cocaine on Atkins, resulting in additional drug charges.

Atkins has been charged with one count of making written or electronic threats to kill or promote violence, classified as a second-degree felony, as well as being held without bond. The Secret Service has been notified and is currently evaluating if federal charges should also be pursued against Atkins given the nature of his threats. More information regarding this ongoing investigation can be found in the reports from USA Today and Time.