It began with a screen. A phone. A post. In St. Johns County, Florida, an 18-year-old named Imayen Ekanem logged off her shift at Zaxby’s, scrolled through social media, and saw an invitation to a vigil in memory of Charlie Kirk, the conservative commentator who was fatally shot at a college event in Utah.
Up came a screenshot promoted to her Snapchat “private story,” and over it, the words: “Not on my bday” and “Whoever goes is getting shot up.” Within hours, the post rippled beyond emojis: it sparked concern, media attention, and law enforcement involvement. By Sunday, Ekanem was arrested.
It’s easy to discount “online” threats as posturing. But when people use words like “shot up” in connection with an organized public assembly, those words aren’t just noise—they carry potential violence.
In a world where digital speech often precedes action, we must ask: when does speech become a crime? And how do we protect both free expression and public safety?
Key Facts
* Imayen Ekanem, 18, from St. Johns County, Florida, was arrested after allegedly posting threatening messages about a Charlie Kirk vigil via Snapchat.
* She is charged with a felony count involving written threats to kill or inflict bodily injury, or to commit a mass shooting or an act of terrorism.
* According to the arrest report, after work, Ekanem saw a screenshot advertising the vigil, posted it, and overlaid inflammatory text. The post was reportedly viewed by an unknown number of people, then reported to law enforcement.
* She reportedly consented to a search of her phone, which was used for the post. There’s no bond initially set; she is held pending legal proceedings.
When Speech Stops Being Just Words
It’s one thing to disagree vehemently with someone’s beliefs. It’s another to threaten their lives for simply showing up. Imayen Ekanem’s post wasn’t just provocative—it was a red-flag moment.
You May Like: Is Shoprite Closing Shop in Nigeria? The Truth Behind The Empty Shelves
In an era of mass shootings, political violence, and echo chambers, we cannot treat threat-speech as just online drama. Words have weight. Intent, reach, follow-through—they all matter. If we neglect them, the veneer of safety cracks.
For society to survive its divisions, there must be consequences not just for action, but for threat. Not just for silence, but for the speech that holds fire in hold-your-breath moments like this.
