Enid man accused of tweeting threats to kill Stitt, other Republican leaders
An Enid man has been charged in federal court with making social media threats to kill Republican leaders across the country, including a threat to shoot to death Gov. Kevin Stitt and his family.
Tyler Jay Marshall, 36, is accused of tweeting threats to Stitt, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Marshall has been charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing a threat, which is a felony that carries a sentence up to five years in federal prison.
The FBI says on May 15 it received a tip that Marshall was making the threats on social media.
An affidavit for an arrest warrant allegedly shows screenshots of the disturbing threats. The Twitter account used to post the replies has since been suspended.
In response to a Mother’s Day post by Stitt, which included photos of the governor’s mother, wife and daughters, Marshall allegedly replied with threats to shoot them, and bring guns to events where Stitt would be speaking.
The FBI says Marshall created the email address gopshoulddiesoon@gmail.com.
After a DeSantis tweet decrying diversity, equity and inclusiveness in higher education, Marshall is alleged to have replied “I’ll see you dead in your home.”
On May 19, FBI agents arrested Marshall at the Enid house where he rented a room.
Marshall claimed he created a Twitter account a couple of weeks earlier, when he was drunk, to troll people online, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.
Marshall allegedly told investigators he trolled people “like senators.”
When shown an alleged screenshot of Marshall tweeting at Cruz “I’m gonna shoot you soon,” Marshall, according to the affidavit, told FBI agents:
“I would never do that” and “I don’t have a gun.”
In addition to these threats, Marshall also is accused of replying to Sanders, the Arkansas governor:
“Can’t wait to murder your family. See you soon.”