Background: Marion County Superior Court in Indianapolis, Indiana (Google Maps). Inset: Preston Pickett (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department).
An Indiana man faces prison time after making threats to “kill many illegals” in TikTok videos coinciding with President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Preston Pickett, aged 59, admitted guilt to charges of threatening to commit terrorism, according to court documents from Marion County, reviewed by Law&Crime. Though sentenced to a two-year prison term, Pickett will serve less than a year, considering credits for time already spent in custody.
The investigation began on January 12 when the FBI alerted the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department about threats posted on TikTok by a local individual, as revealed by the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announcement. The threats were aimed at illegal immigrants, with Pickett expressing intentions of violence upon Trump’s return to office.
According to court filings accessed by WXIN, a Fox affiliate, Pickett stated, “I will shoot on sight I don’t check IDs so you all are illegal to me,” and added, “I will kill many illegals on January 20.”
Pickett’s threatening messages continued, with another post declaring, “I will have my kills on the first day Trump takes office,” and an additional message claiming, “I will be famous for killing the most illegals in one day,” authorities reported.
Law enforcement traced the TikTok account back to Pickett through its IP address and email. When officers approached his Southport residence, Pickett ran outside, shouting that “police were complicit with the illegals in this country,” according to a report from WTHR, an NBC affiliate.
A detective then told him they were there to investigate the threats. Pickett reportedly responded by asking whether he “had the right to exercise his Second Amendment against foreign and domestic terrorists.” The officer said no.
Pickett’s cellphone and two guns were confiscated, and as part of his plea agreement, they were ordered to be destroyed.
The man had reportedly made threats before. In March 2024, he reportedly threatened to shoot up a Florida car wash, and in November 2023, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office received an anonymous threat from a phone registered to Pickett claiming he would use a rifle to shoot employees while they walked to their vehicles, per WTHR.
