A disturbing series of threats against former President Donald Trump and his family has resulted in the arrest of an Arizona man who brandished multiple weapons in online videos.
According to Daily Mail, Manuel Tamayo-Torres posted numerous videos on Facebook displaying various firearms while making explicit death threats against Trump and his children, even attending one of Trump's campaign rallies in Arizona.
The suspect posted nearly daily videos featuring an arsenal of weapons, including an AR-15 style rifle with a 30-round magazine, while making threats.
Court documents reveal that Tamayo-Torres claimed to have witnessed Trump and Secret Service agents kidnapping his daughter during the August 23 rally at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
In one of his menacing videos posted Thursday, Tamayo-Torres directly threatened the former president and his family. He claimed that government agencies, including the Secret Service, FBI, CIA, and military, would be powerless to prevent his actions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) documented multiple social media posts showing Tamayo-Torres with various weapons. Officials confirmed the suspect possessed an AR-15, a rifle, and a shotgun, as evidenced in the videos.
Although the charges were filed in Arizona, law enforcement apprehended Tamayo-Torres in California after videos revealed his presence in the San Diego area.
This incident adds to a series of security threats Trump has faced throughout 2024. The former president survived an assassination attempt during a July 13 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he sustained an ear injury.
The Butler incident resulted in one civilian casualty when father Corey Comperatore was killed while protecting his family from shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, who was subsequently killed by Secret Service agents. The security breach led to the resignation of Secret Service director Kimberly Chealte following criticism from both political parties.
In a separate incident on September 15, Ryan Routh, 58, attempted to target Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course. Routh, armed with an AK-47 and surveillance equipment, fled after encountering Secret Service resistance and is currently held in a Miami federal detention center.
Tamayo-Torres said in one of his threatening videos:
You're gonna die, your son's gonna die. Your whole family is going to die. This is reality for you now. This is the only reality you have in your future, dying. Secret Service, FBI, CIA and the military are all defenseless.
The suspect made additional claims about Trump and the Secret Service allegedly being involved in kidnapping and sex-trafficking his children. These accusations appeared regularly in his social media posts, which authorities monitored before making the arrest.
The Justice Department recently revealed an alleged Iranian plot targeting Trump, adding to the growing list of security concerns surrounding the former president's safety.
