Federal authorities have arrested an Arizona man accused of posting videos online threatening to kill the president-elect Donald Trump and his family.
In videos posted to Facebook in recent months, Manuel Tamayo-Torres has made wild and outlandish claims about Trump, but also apparently used an AR 15-style rifle and other weapons in the videos, and in August he filmed a trip to an arena in Glendale, Arizona. , while Trump was holding a campaign rally there, according to charging documents filed in the case.
While charging documents only refer to Trump as “Individual No. 1,” they say Tamayo-Torres made “vague but direct threats” against the “president-elect,” and sources familiar with the investigation separately confirmed that Tamayo-Torres’ alleged threats were aimed at Trump. .
“(You) are going to die,” Tamayo-Torres reportedly said in a video posted Thursday. “(Your son will die. Your whole family will die… I’ll punch a hole in your face.”
The clip was one of “many” curse-filled videos he has posted “almost daily” in recent months, claiming that “Individual 1” kidnapped and sex-trafficked his children, according to charging documents.
It is unclear whether Tamayo-Torres actually has children.
In early November, Tamayo-Torres allegedly posted a video threatening “Individual 1” with “what appears to be a white AR 15-style rifle with a 30-round magazine inserted,” charging documents said.
In another video, according to charging documents, Tamayo-Torres said she saw “Individual 1” and that the Secret Service had kidnapped her daughter. The video was released on August 23 from the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, where Trump was holding a campaign rally that day.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally on March 9, 2024 in Rome, Georgia.
Mike Stewart/AP, FILE
During the speech, Trump stated that he was “almost murdered” a month earlier by a Pennsylvania man, Thomas Crooks. opened fire on him with an AR 15 style rifle at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Authorities have not yet identified a clear motive for the attack.
Trump told them that there are “dangers faced by leaders who challenge the corrupt political establishment” in the face of the demonstrations.
“When you stand up, you bring some trouble on yourself, but you’ve got to do what’s right,” Trump said.
While investigating Tamayo-Torres’ latest alleged threats, an officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives task force found photos on Facebook of Tamayo-Torres carrying a bullpup-style shotgun, a rifle and an AR15. style rifle seen in one of his videos, according to charging documents.
Tamayo-Torres was arrested Monday near San Diego, where he planned to move soon, court records show.
Although he was arrested in California, the charges against him were filed in Arizona. He was accused of making threats against a president or the president’s successor.
He was also charged with four counts of making false statements in the purchase of a firearm after lying on federal forms a year ago when trying to buy a gun at a Phoenix gun store.
He swore on those forms that he had no prior felony convictions, but was convicted of an assault in San Diego in 2003, so he was legally prohibited from possessing firearms, charging documents say.
As of Tuesday afternoon, court records did not list an attorney representing Tamayo-Torres.
