Kansas Man Charged With Threatening to Kill Trump Ahead of Wichita Visit

A 24-year-old Kansas man is in federal custody after prosecutors say he posted threats to shoot President Donald Trump under local news stories about the president's visit to Wichita on Monday, claimed he had ammunition, and wrote that he had already mapped rooftops near the speech site.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas filed a criminal complaint on October 17 against Jaden J. Read, 24, of Clearwater, charging him with making threats against the president. Officers arrested Read in Clearwater the same day. He remains in federal custody until his detention hearing. The charge carries a prison sentence of up to five years.

A tip, then two sets of comments

The investigation began on October 15, when a Crime Stoppers tip pointed authorities to comments under a KAKE News article on Facebook about Trump's upcoming visit to Wichita on October 19. Prosecutors say Read wrote: "Let's shoot Trump honestly, where's our shooter? I'm tired of living this money life." Right after that, he posted a second comment on the same article: "I just got a 308 and 305 round and I'm killing this pedo."

Investigators then found two more comments under a separate KWCH 12 News article about the visit. In the first, prosecutors say, Read wrote: "Can we shoot him in Kansas please I will myself." A minute later he posted: "IK where your speech will be. Already mapped out roofs around. Finna get kirked since yall couldn't help him."

Prosecutors draw a line

"Political violence and threats of political violence will not be tolerated," U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser said. He said the First Amendment allows for robust disagreement but has limits, and cautioned people to stay within the bounds of constitutionally protected speech.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the United States Marshals Service, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Wichita Police Department. Read was arrested two days before Trump's scheduled Monday appearance in Wichita, and the visit went ahead with the suspect already in custody.

Two days from tip to arrest

The case moved fast. The tip came in on Thursday, October 15. By Saturday, October 17, prosecutors had filed the complaint and officers had arrested Read in Clearwater. Prosecutors say investigators traced the Facebook comments back to Read's account. He was taken into federal custody that day and, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, will remain there until his detention hearing, which will decide whether he stays in custody while the case goes forward.