3 Alabama college students arrested over alleged threats against Trump before rally
MOBILE, ALABAMA: Three University of South Alabama students are in custody after the FBI accused them of making threats against President Donald Trump ahead of his campus rally.
Amare Jemal Woods, Cameron Lamark Lewis, and Kayla Leaann Smith were taken into custody on Friday, October 2, after authorities said separate social media posts were uncovered during an intelligence search.
The alleged posts were found on September 29, just three days before Trump visited the university. Authorities say the three students acted independently of one another, with federal documents detailing posts they allegedly made on social media.
Amare Jemal Woods allegedly posted a threat against Trump on TikTok
According to the FBI, Woods allegedly made a threatening comment about Trump on TikTok on September 27.
Federal documents obtained by AL.com say Woods wrote that the president “gotta die bro.”
The FBI agent said the comment was posted in response to a post about the president’s planned visit to the University of South Alabama campus on Friday.
The post was among the material authorities reviewed during their intelligence search of social media on September 29.
Cameron Lamark Lewis allegedly referenced Charlie Kirk's killing
Biology major Lewis is also accused of making threatening posts, including one that authorities say referenced the University of South Alabama and the murder of Charlie Kirk.
According to federal documents, Lewis allegedly made a post on September 26 with reference to Utah Valley University, where Kirk was fatally shot.
As per the FBI, in another post, Lewis referenced the fatal shooting of Mikquale Cooper, also known as Bloodhound Q50.
Kayla Leaann Smith allegedly responded 'we only got one chance' to a TikTok about Trump's visit
Smith, a student of elementary education, is accused of responding to a TikTok about students discussing Trump’s planned visit to South Alabama’s homecoming.
According to the FBI, Smith allegedly wrote, “We only got one chance let’s take it,” and followed it with an image showing a person appearing to mimic holding a gun.
Woods’ attorney, Jason Darley, described his client as a “diminutive kid” who may have been swept up in the heated rhetoric often seen on social media.
Darley said Woods was “the furthest away from any defendant” he had represented in federal court during his 21 years as an attorney.
