A West Palm Beach, Florida man is facing charges after allegedly making threats against former President Donald Trump on social media. Shannon Depararro Atkins, 46, was taken into custody following a tip to the FBI's National Threat Operations Center. Interim West Palm Beach Police Chief Tony Araujo confirmed the arrest during a Saturday press conference.

Atkins is facing charges of felony intimidation, drug possession, and smuggling contraband into a county detention facility. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office released his mugshot following the arrest.

According to Chief Araujo, a Palm Beach detective discovered several alarming posts on Atkins’ social media accounts. Among the posts were statements such as, "Lincoln, JFK, Reagan, Martin Luther King and Trump - unfortunately, one is still alive"; "Bullets, please. Jesus, save America"; and "I've been banned from X because I said 'I hope and pray someone kills him. We haven't had an assassination in years.'"

Law enforcement obtained a warrant and subsequently arrested Atkins near his residence. During the arrest, officers discovered three bags of cocaine in Atkins’ possession. While being questioned, Atkins reportedly confessed to authoring the social media posts but claimed they were intended as jokes.

Chief Araujo emphasized the seriousness of such threats, stating, "Folks, this is not a joke. Nothing of that sort is a joke." He highlighted the recent history of attempts on Trump’s life, referencing incidents in July and September. The Secret Service has been notified and is currently investigating the matter.

The FBI is also reportedly involved in the ongoing investigation. Chief Araujo underscored the gravity of making threats, even in jest, in the current climate. He stated, "We have incident after incident, example after example, of when these threats become real, and we take these very seriously." Araujo added that while it’s impossible to know if a potential incident was averted, the arrest of Atkins will hold him accountable for his actions.

Atkins’ bond was set at $5,000 for the drug charges; however, he was denied bond for the threats against the former president.