Florida authorities believe they may have just prevented a mass shooting by apprehending a Palm Beach man who allegedly posted online about the attack he planned to carry out — all while maintaining a massive arsenal of weapons.
According to an arrest report obtained by PEOPLE, Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies arrested Damien Allen on April 29 following a monthlong investigation into Allen’s social media activity, where he allegedly threatened to commit multiple mass shootings.
According to the arrest report, Allen was also chatting with Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow about his plans on TikTok.
On December 17, 2024, Rupnow, then 15, carried out a mass shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and a student and injuring six others before turning the gun on herself.
“Once you get to a point, there’s no going back,” Allen wrote to Rupnow on TikTok on May 23, 2024, according to the arrest report. “I got 7 places I would, strike the police dept. also, Gorilla warfare tactics, Ambushing and blitz.”
According to the arrest report, on June 7, 2024, Allen wrote to Rupnow, “We go down together,” and she responded, “Correct.” They then said, “I love you” to each other.
Deputies say they discovered the 22-year-old with an arsenal of 18 firearms, over 12,000 rounds of ammunition, ballistic armor, tactical gear, and multiple uniforms, including a Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office deputy uniform and several different military uniforms.
According to the arrest report, Allen was arrested on felony charges of written threats to kill, injure, or commit a mass shooting or act of terrorism, unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and unlawful use of a badge impersonating an officer.
Allen remains in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail on a $50,000 bond and will be represented by the Public Defender’s Office, according to his online court records.
In addition to the felony charges, the sheriff’s office petitioned a judge to temporarily remove Allen’s firearms under Florida’s Risk Protection Order Act, which prohibits people from possessing firearms if they pose a threat to themselves or others.
According to the petition, Allen “poses a significant danger of causing personal injury to himself or others by having a firearm.” The circuit judge, Donald Hafele, has scheduled a hearing on May 15 to discuss the risk protection order.
