A shocking TikTok post offering $45,000 for the death of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has resulted in a Minnesota man’s arrest. This blatant threat, far beyond mere criticism, has sparked urgent federal action.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Tyler Maxon Avalos from St. Paul was detained on October 16 in Ramsey County, charged with interstate transmission of a threat to injure another person. The 30-year-old posted a wanted poster online showing Bondi with a target on her forehead, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
With a history of criminal convictions, Avalos’s actions have raised serious alarms. This isn’t just digital noise; it’s a calculated call for violence.
Avalos’s disturbing post, captioned “cough cough. When they don’t serve us, then what?” spread quickly until a Detroit TikTok user reported it to the FBI on October 9. Federal agents moved fast to address the public safety risk.
Through an emergency request to TikTok and collaboration with Google and Comcast, they traced the account to Avalos and confirmed his St. Paul residence. Special Agent Caleb Jurchisin, trained in domestic terrorism, noted extremist indicators like an anarchist symbol on Avalos’s profile.
This wasn’t a random rant but a flagged threat with ideological undertones. The speed of the response shows the system can work, though not always before damage spreads.
Avalos’s past includes convictions for domestic assault, third-degree domestic battery, and felony stalking as recent as July 2022 in Dakota County. This history suggests a pattern of disregard for others’ safety.
His TikTok account, now seemingly removed, featured the name “WACKO” with anarchist imagery, pointing to a mindset that may go beyond mere provocation. A $45,000 bounty and a call for Bondi to be turned in “preferably dead” isn’t free speech; it’s a crime.
Dismissing this as online posturing ignores the specificity of the threat. When someone with violent convictions escalates to public bounties, attention must be paid.
On October 22, U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas Micko allowed Avalos’s release under strict conditions, including GPS monitoring and a curfew. He’s also banned from weapons, alcohol, and unapproved internet access.
Confined to Minnesota and required to continue mental health treatment, Avalos faces significant oversight. Yet, one wonders if release truly fits the gravity of targeting a federal official.
The court sees a risk but opts for monitored freedom over detention. Public safety demands a harder look at whether this balance suffices.
Avalos’s case follows a similar TikTok incident in Wisconsin, where Andrew Stanton was charged with threatening federal agents. Stanton, pleading not guilty, awaits trial on December 15.
This pattern reveals social media as a platform for violent rhetoric against public officials. TikTok and others must answer for how easily threats gain traction.
Free dialogue is crucial, but not when it shields explicit murder bounties with cash offers. Accountability, not just for posters but for platforms, is long overdue.