Allison Albro, 21, told investigators the message was a joke, according to the sheriff. She faces two charges.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A Florida woman was arrested after investigators say she posted a social media message threatening to shoot President Donald Trump at his scheduled rally in Daytona Beach on Friday, October 30.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office identified her as 21-year-old Allison Albro. Sheriff Mike Chitwood said her Thursday post said she planned to go to the rally so she could “shoot him with my glock.” The event was scheduled for Friday evening at the Ocean Center.
Chitwood said members of the sheriff’s domestic security unit and the U.S. Secret Service spoke with Albro. He said she told them the post was a joke and that she had no access to a Glock or any other weapon. The sheriff’s office arrested her on charges of making a written threat to kill and unlawful use of a communications device. The charges are allegations and have not been decided in court.
A post can bring real consequences
Albro’s reported explanation does not change how seriously authorities treated the message. Public threats about shooting someone can prompt an immediate security response, even when the writer later says they were joking.
There is plenty of room online for disagreement, satire and trolling without threatening a person’s life. If you do not mean it, do not post it. And joke or not, leave threats out of it. In this case, investigators acted on the post before a crowded public event.
Sources: Volusia County Sheriff’s Office statements reported by WKMG News 6; Volusia County event listing.