Florida security guard threatens to kill Trump to avenge Soleimani, says it was just a joke after arrest
BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA: A Florida man has been arrested and charged after he threatened to assassinate President Donald Trump over US airstrikes that killed Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani.
Chauncy Devonte Lump, 26, a security guard at Sunstate Security, was brought to the attention of authorities after he uploaded a seven-minute video on Facebook condemning Trump's targeted killing of Soleimani, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
In the bizarre video, Lump had wrapped himself in a shower curtain to recreate the flowing robes worn by those in the middle east, worn a towel like a turban, and had middle eastern music playing in the background.
"He killed my leader and I have to kill him. I am ready for Donald," he said, stated a criminal complaint filed against him by Secret Service Special Agent Lucas White.
"I need to find the Donald because if I don’t find him, I am going to have to blow up Broward County. So please tell me where he is," he continues, before adding, "Do not play with me. I have an AK-47. I have it right here. Do not play with me, OK. I will come to Broward County tonight. I’m gonna come to Broward County."
Lump goes on to hold up an AK-47, as well as a loaded AK-47 magazine, the complaint says, and appears to laugh at comments on the video warning him that the police would "come get your silly ass."
"I am in Boca," he says, seemingly taunting the authorities. "Tell them to come get me from Boca — 15 minutes from Palm Beach were Donald Trump is — tell them to come get me."
A viewer reported the video to Facebook, which in turn reported it to the US Secret Service and the Broward Sheriff's Threat Management Unit with Lump's telephone number and date of birth. Investigators apprehended Lump at 2 am on January 4 as he drove into the parking lot of his apartment in the 500 Block of Northeast 34th Court, where they found a gun and a magazine of ammunition.
When questioned, the 26-year-old admitted what he said could have been interpreted as a threat against Trump but insisted the video was meant to be a joke and that he had no intention of going through with his threats.
He has since been charged with making a false bomb threat and faces a federal charge of willfully making a threat to kill, kidnap or inflict bodily harm upon the president of the United States.
During his first appearance in court, Broward Judge Susan Alspector said his charge is "super serious" and set his bond at $100,000. He is currently being held at the Joseph V. Conte Facility by US Marshals.