Illinois Man Charged With Threatening to Kill Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – A 22-year-old Illinois man has been charged with making violent threats against Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan after she posted condolences on social media about the mass shooting at Annunciation Church.
Threats Made on Social Media
According to court documents, Flanagan shared several posts on Twitter/X offering sympathy to the Annunciation community and thanking first responders. Soon after, an account began responding with repeated threats calling for her to be killed.
Investigators with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension traced the account to Caden J. Sluder of Illinois, who now faces a felony charge of threats of violence. The charge was filed via warrant since Sluder lives out of state, according to a report from KSTP.
Suspect Admitted Making Posts
When investigators contacted Sluder on August 27, he admitted to making the comments but insisted he had no real intent to harm Flanagan.
“I’m not actually gonna [expletive] do anything. I’m not crazy,” he reportedly told investigators.
Sluder described the posts as a “joke” made out of frustration, referencing his anger that Christians had been killed by a trans person during the church shooting. He also pointed to a photo of Flanagan wearing a “Protect Trans Kids” shirt, which he said fueled his anger.
Apologies but Serious Charges
Sluder told investigators he had already deleted the “throwaway” account used for the threats and emphasized he had no plans to travel to Minnesota. He apologized multiple times, saying he was simply “very frustrated” and was “expressing his freedom of speech.”
Despite his statements, prosecutors moved forward with charges, underscoring the seriousness of threatening a public official.
The case highlights the risks public leaders face online in the aftermath of tragedies and the thin line between free expression and criminal threats. For updates on this case and related public safety news, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.