A 29-year-old man from Minnesota has been arrested for allegedly posting a TikTok video offering a $45,000 bounty for the death of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The disturbing post, which included an image of Bondi with a sniper-scope red dot on her forehead and the caption “WANTED: Pam Bondi / REWARD: 45,000 / DEAD OR ALIVE (PREFERABLY DEAD),” was flagged to the FBI by a concerned citizen. The post also featured a cryptic message: “Cough cough. When they don’t serve us, then what?”
The FBI traced the post to Tyler Maxon Avalos, who used the TikTok handle “Wacko.” Investigators noted that his profile included anarchist symbols and a link to “An Anarchist FAQ,” a document frequently cited in online extremist circles. Avalos was arrested on October 16 and charged with interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person.
Court documents reveal that Avalos has a significant criminal history, including a 2022 felony stalking conviction in Minnesota and a 2016 felony domestic battery charge in Florida. He also has a misdemeanor domestic assault conviction from 2016, which was reportedly reduced from a felony charge of domestic assault by strangulation.
Authorities emphasized the seriousness of the threat, stating that Avalos’s actions constituted a deliberate attempt to incite harm against a public official. The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that Avalos could face federal charges related to threats against public officials, solicitation to commit murder, and interstate transmission of threatening communications.
The swift intervention of a concerned citizen played a crucial role in preventing potential violence. An FBI spokesperson urged the public to remain vigilant and report any threats of this nature immediately, emphasizing that public safety depends on such vigilance.
Avalos is currently being held pending further federal charges. Investigators are reviewing his online activity to determine whether others were involved or aware of the plot.
This incident underscores the potential dangers of social media platforms and the importance of monitoring online activity to prevent threats of violence. Authorities continue to investigate the case and are committed to ensuring the safety of public officials.
