A Minnesota Man's Online Threat Against a Top Official

A man from Minnesota is in trouble after posting a threatening message on TikTok. He allegedly put a price on the head of Pam Bondi, who is a high-ranking official. The post had a picture of Bondi with a red dot on her forehead, like a target. It also said she was wanted, dead or alive, with a reward of $45, 000. The post was seen by someone in Detroit, who told the FBI about it. The FBI looked into it and found out who made the post. The person behind it was Tyler Maxon Avalos, a 30-year-old from St. Paul. His TikTok account had signs of anarchist beliefs. Avalos has been in legal trouble before. He was convicted of stalking in 2022 and had other charges related to assault in 2016. Avalos had to go to court and was let out on his own recognizance. This means he didn't have to pay bail but promised to show up for future court dates. The case is serious because it involves a threat against a public official. It also raises questions about how social media can be used to spread harmful messages. Threats like this are not just words. They can cause real fear and put people in danger. It's important to take such threats seriously and to understand the consequences of posting harmful content online. The case also shows how the FBI monitors social media for threats to public safety.