A 32-year-old man from Butler, Pennsylvania, has been arrested and charged after allegedly making violent threats online against President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that Shawn Monper faces four federal charges related to making threats against government officials and law enforcement.
Online Threats Spark Federal Investigation
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the investigation began after the FBI National Threat Operations Section received an emergency tip on April 8, 2025. The tip concerned violent threats posted on YouTube by a user named “Mr Satan.”
The posts were made between January 15 and April 5, 2025, and included repeated threats of violence against political and law enforcement figures.
Investigators traced the IP address linked to the account back to Monper’s home. Further inquiry revealed that Monper had obtained a firearms permit shortly after Donald Trump’s second-term inauguration in January 2025.
Chilling Online Posts
Federal documents outline several disturbing messages Monper allegedly posted. On February 17, he wrote:
“Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed… American Revolution 2.0.”
In the same month, he claimed he had been stocking up on firearms and ammunition. His threats escalated in March, with one post reading:
“Eventually I’m going to do a mass shooting.”
He also targeted ICE agents specifically, calling them terrorists and vowing to attack them:
“If I see an armed ICE agent, I will consider it a domestic terrorist, and an active shooter and open fire on them.”
Authorities described Monper’s posts as highly detailed and indicative of someone preparing for potential acts of mass violence.
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Monper was arrested on April 9, 2025, with help from the Butler Township Police Department. The next day, he appeared in court, where he was ordered to remain in custody pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 14.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi praised law enforcement, saying:
“I want to applaud the outstanding and courageous investigative work of the FBI and the Butler Township Police Department… Thankfully, they identified and apprehended this individual before he could carry out his threats.”
She added that the Department of Justice would pursue the “maximum appropriate punishment” in such cases.
Public Safety and Legal Response
Officials emphasized that this incident is a serious reminder of the real-world consequences of online threats, especially when they involve plans for political violence or mass attacks. Although Monper has not yet been convicted, the volume and nature of the messages raised enough concern to act swiftly.
Monper’s case is a part of a broader effort by federal law enforcement to monitor and address threats made against public officials. The Justice Department reiterated its commitment to preventing acts of domestic terrorism and ensuring the safety of government leaders and agencies.