ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A threat posted to social media against St. Pete’s upcoming pride festival has prompted an FBI investigation.
The threatening Facebook comment was made on a Tampa Bay Times social media post about this weekend’s gay pride parade.
The comment, riddled with spelling errors, was apparently posted by someone using an alias and read “I am calling in my snipper [sic] friends. These fa***** must be iraticated [sic] much like cockroaches.”
A St. Pete police spokesperson confirmed to 10News that officers were aware of the post and were working with federal partners to investigate it.
"At this time there is no reason for alarm, but we take every comment seriously," said spokesperson Yolanda Fernandez.
When asked about the individual who allegedly made the comment, the FBI said no criminal charges had been filed, as of Thursday afternoon.
The Times reports it has since deleted the comment. But one Facebook user who saw it and was understandably alarmed shared a screenshot of it.
Ryan Menke said he alerted authorities because “after what happened… with Pulse… I’m not taking my chances,” referencing the 2016 shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando that left 49 people dead.
“I see something. I say something. I don’t care if this is an idle threat,” Menke said in his post sharing a screenshot of the threat.
Mayor Rick Kriseman, who joined LGBTQ+ community leaders Thursday morning to raise the rainbow flag over city hall, said while he’s disheartened by the recent threat on social media, he promises the security plan police already have in place will ensure that everyone stays safe.
"It’s unfortunate," Kriseman told reporters. "This is a loving, tolerant welcoming city and will continue to be and we will not be deterred.”
As in years past, St. Pete police will have stepped up security and patrols in and around the downtown area during the three-day festival.
"We have a plan in place for pride," Fernandez told 10News. "We will have a visible presence at the parade as well as resources that are not easily seen. We will have our elevated video platform on site for the route and will be taking every precaution to keep our visitors safe."
Fernandez said police have identified who posted the comment but he is not currently facing charges.
Police are encouraging everyone attending to say something if they see something.
“I tell people come to the events because if you don’t you are allowing those whose goal is to scare you away to intimidate you, to be successful," Kriseman said.
St. Pete’s pride event is one of the largest in the south with more than 200,000 people expected to participate.
The main event—the parade—happens Saturday evening.
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