An 18-year-old Massachusetts man has been arrested and charged with making a threat against President Donald Trump, after an FBI investigation uncovered additional online messages referencing mass shootings, firearms and violence. Federal, state and local law enforcement officers arrested Trenton Touch during an early-morning raid at his home in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. How did the FBI investigation begin? According to investigators, Meta alerted the FBI in September to four Instagram accounts containing threats of violence. The FBI linked the accounts to Touch. Investigators say one account sent another user a photograph of a firearm in June, along with a message threatening to kill President Trump. Other messages allegedly discussed military-style equipment and carrying out shootings. The FBI also identified an August message that investigators believe referenced a mass shooter responsible for a 2014 attack in California. Authorities say threatening messages were sent to hundreds of people over several months. FBI searches homes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire During a search of Touch’s Tewksbury home, investigators say they recovered a revolver matching photographs shared through the social media accounts. Authorities also reported finding materials associated with white supremacist and Nazi ideology, camouflage clothing, military-style knives and a hatchet. A separate search at Touch’s grandparents’ home in New Hampshire uncovered a firearm investigators say was pictured in connection with the alleged threat against Trump. Neighbors describe early-morning raid Tewksbury resident and Vietnam veteran Richard Frank described hearing loud explosions around 6 a.m. as officers carried out the operation. Frank said the sounds of flashbang devices startled him before he witnessed officers taking a man into custody. Police say investigation may have prevented violence Tewksbury’s police chief credited investigators for taking the threats seriously, saying their work may have prevented a mass casualty incident. Touch has been charged in connection with the alleged threat against the president. The other messages and materials are described as findings of the investigation, not additional convictions. Post navigation Security guard credited with stopping deadly shooting Wednesday at Citibank office in Tampa, Florida
