A 24-year-old Kansas man has been charged with threatening US President Donald Trump after allegedly posting a series of violent messages on social media ahead of the president’s planned visit to Wichita.
Jaden J. Read, of Clearwater, Kansas, was arrested on Saturday and transferred to federal custody following an investigation triggered by a Crime Stoppers tip, the US Justice Department said.
According to the Justice Department, the investigation began on October 15 after a Crime Stoppers tip directed authorities to Facebook comments Read allegedly posted in response to a KAKE News article about Trump’s scheduled October 19 visit to Wichita.
Prosecutors said Read called for the president to be shot and claimed he had obtained ammunition and intended to kill him.
“Let’s shoot Trump honestly, where’s our shooter? I’m tired of living this money life,” Read allegedly wrote in one comment, according to the Justice Department.
In another post beneath the same article, he allegedly wrote: “I just got a 308 and 305 round and I’m killing this pedo.”
Suspect allegedly claimed to have mapped rooftops
Investigators subsequently discovered additional comments Read allegedly posted in response to a separate KWCH 12 News article about Trump’s planned visit to the Wichita area.
“Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself,” Read allegedly wrote in one comment.
About a minute later, he reportedly added that he knew where Trump would deliver his speech and had already mapped nearby rooftops.
“IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn’t help him,” the post allegedly read.
The reference to being “kirked” appeared to allude to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.
Trump’s Wichita visit was scheduled for October 19, with the president expected to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall in his re-election campaign against Democratic candidate Adam Hamilton.
Federal authorities arrested Read in Clearwater
Read was arrested in Clearwater on Saturday, two days before Trump’s scheduled visit, and transferred to federal custody.
The US Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas filed a criminal complaint charging him with making threats against the president. The Justice Department announced the case in a statement on Monday.
Authorities said Read was expected to remain in custody pending a detention hearing.
The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the US Secret Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Kansas Highway Patrol and Wichita police.
US attorney warns against political violence
US Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser condemned threats of political violence while stressing that political expression remains protected under the US Constitution.
“Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated,” Kriegshauser said in the Justice Department’s statement.
“The First Amendment allows for robust disagreement but there are constraints,” he added, cautioning people to remain within the boundaries of constitutionally protected speech.
The allegations against Read remain subject to the legal process.
