Three Alabama Students Arrested Over Alleged Trump Threats

Three University of South Alabama students—Amare Jemal Woods, Cameron Lamark Lewis and Kayla Leaann Smith—were arrested Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in Mobile on federal charges of threatening President Donald Trump over social media posts found ahead of his Mitchell Center rally. Charges were unsealed Friday afternoon; the rally proceeded that evening. A federal magistrate ordered all three detained after a Monday hearing. The maximum penalty is five years. Affidavits allege Woods wrote "he gotta die bro" on TikTok on Sept. 27; Lewis posted on X on Sept. 26 referencing past targeted violence; and Smith replied on Sept. 29, "We only got one chance let's take it," with an image of a person holding or mimicking a firearm. Woods is a freshman aerospace engineering student; Smith studies elementary education. Accounts differ on whether Lewis majors in biology or philosophy. Defense attorney Jason Darley said Woods is a very young student far from any defendant he has represented in 21 years, that the broad statute requires no capability to act, and that he does not think any of the three are threats. The university condemned threats, said the RNC rented the venue, and distinguished free expression from unlawful conduct.