An Arizona man is facing serious charges after he allegedly posted Facebook videos threatening to kill Donald Trump, who was about to step into his role as president, according to court papers.
The man, identified as Manuel Tamayo-Torres, was arrested earlier this week. He’s accused of making threats against the incoming president and lying on firearm purchase forms. The legal documents don’t directly name Trump but instead refer to him as “Individual 1.” However, officials have confirmed the threats were aimed at Trump.
In a criminal complaint, Tamayo-Torres is accused of threatening to harm Trump, Trump’s family, and even law enforcement officers. The threats surfaced in a series of videos where he claimed, without evidence, that Trump and others had kidnapped and harmed his children. There’s no clarity on whether Tamayo-Torres actually has children or any proof supporting his claims.
One video, posted on November 21, shows Tamayo-Torres making chilling statements. He allegedly says, “You’re going to die,” addressing Trump, and adds that Trump’s family would face the same fate. He even threatens to personally harm him.
In another video posted a week earlier, Tamayo-Torres reportedly displayed what looked like a white AR-15-style rifle with a loaded magazine and stated his intention to use it against Trump.
Tamayo-Torres and Firearm Trouble
Tamayo-Torres also tried to buy firearms around the time he was posting these threatening videos. On November 13 and 15, he visited Shooters World, a gun store and shooting range in Phoenix. But both times, his attempts hit a wall.
According to court papers, he lied on the forms used to buy firearms. He claimed he had no felony convictions and wasn’t under any restraining orders. Both claims turned out to be false.
Back in 2003, Tamayo-Torres had been convicted of assault in California, a felony that earned him six years in prison. More recently, in July 2023, his ex-wife had a protective order issued against him, barring him from contacting her unless it was through legal channels.
Threats Against Trump Are Not New
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Trump has faced threats. Over the past year, there have been other attempts to harm him while he was running for president again.
In July, a 20-year-old man named Thomas Matthew Crooks fired shots during a Trump rally in Pennsylvania. While Trump wasn’t harmed, a firefighter was killed, and two other people were injured. Then, in September, a 58-year-old man named Ryan Wesley Routh was accused of trying to assassinate Trump at his golf course in Florida.
For Tamayo-Torres, the case has taken a serious turn. Officials are investigating further, and he’s now facing charges that could land him in even deeper trouble.
