Arrest made in threat to singer
A 43-year-old man was arrested Friday night after police said they were alerted he had threatened to kidnap pop singer Lana Del Rey.
Michael Shawn Hunt, of Riverview, faces charges of attempted kidnapping with a weapon and aggravated stalking with a credible threat, according to a police report. Hunt was taken into custody close to 9 p.m. just a few hundred feet from where the singer was performing at the Amway Center.
Police said they received a tip from a caller who said Hunt shared “cryptic and threatening” posts on social media toward the singer, whose real name is Elizabeth Grant, the report shows. Orlando police officers said the suspect — who never made it inside the venue — was carrying a 3-inch folding knife.
Officers determined “there is a concern for public safety” and “due to the statements posted by Hunt, victim Elizabeth Grant was in fear for her safety,” an arrest report said. About 8,000 people were expected to attend, police said.
Police didn’t reveal the exact wording of the threat, but a Facebook page apparently belonging to Hunt shared several posts leading up to Grant’s concert in Orlando, professing his love for the singer and his intent to be with her.
“I want to see my queen on Friday and from that day forward our decisions will be as one,” Hunt wrote on Jan. 30.
In a separate post about Grant, Hunt said the singer “knows my face in her dreams” and “she’s my always and forever to be.” Below a photo of her, one of Hunt’s friends expressed her good wishes for the couple.
“Wow, I’m so happy for you Michael Hunt. I hope she makes you happy when you finally stalk her down and get your hands on her!” she wrote. Hunt reacted to the post with a heart.
On Wednesday afternoon, Hunt posted a rambling video on Facebook in which he talked about his plans to “get together” with Grant. “I’m going to probably finish out her tour with her, obviously, and dance and talk and figure out what we’re going to do,” he said.
Florida Department of Corrections records show Hunt has served five prison terms, on charges including burglary of an occupied structure, grand theft of a motor vehicle, grand theft with a firearm, forgery and possession and sale of marijuana.
Hunt was most recently released from prison Jan. 29, 2014, after serving about nine months for fleeing law enforcement in Pinellas County, records show.
Jeff Weiner and Michael Williams contributed to this report.