A 28-year-old Indiana man has been arrested for making violent threats against Elon Musk on social media. David Cherry was taken into custody by Indiana State Police on Tuesday after law enforcement in Texas alerted them to the threats.
According to an affidavit filed Thursday in Harrison County, investigators identified several posts made from the social media account @effective_pawn on platform X. One of the posts directly threatened Musk, stating, “We’re gunning you down, next Muskrat.” Another post read, “You’re robbing the American people. We will gut you and parade your corpse through the streets.” A third post threatened to “plant a bomb in Elon Musk’s house.”
Police tracked Cherry’s cellphone to his workplace at a Batteries Plus store in Clarksville, Indiana, where they arrested him. During a search of his residence, authorities confiscated an AR-15-style rifle, a handgun, ammunition, and a ballistic vest. Cherry later admitted to posting the threats in an attempt to be “edgy” and gain attention.
Cherry runs an online store, Red Pawn Dynamics, which sells communist, anarchist, and politically themed merchandise. He has been charged with Level 5 felony intimidation and was released on a $2,500 cash bond. His pre-trial hearings are scheduled for March and July.
This incident follows a series of threats against high-profile political figures. Earlier this year, a Boston University employee allegedly posted a “Wanted Dead or Alive” image targeting members of the Department of Government Efficiency. In 2024, President Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts, while several of his cabinet members also received death threats.
The rise in violent threats against public figures highlights growing concerns over political extremism and online radicalization. Law enforcement agencies have increasingly focused on tracking and addressing such threats, particularly as social media platforms provide a space for individuals to make dangerous statements with real-world consequences.
Cherry’s arrest serves as a reminder that threats of violence, even those claimed to be made for attention, carry serious legal repercussions. As high-profile figures like Musk and political leaders remain frequent targets, authorities continue to emphasize the importance of monitoring and swiftly responding to credible threats to maintain public safety.
