United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging 19-year-old Robert Trout III of St. Petersburg with knowingly transmitting in interstate commerce a true threat. If convicted, Trout faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
According to the complaint, Trout posted a video on Instagram making threats to go to New York City and “cause havoc on the subway” by shooting “anybody” that Trout sees. Trout further threatened that this shooting would occur on the evening of Thanksgiving, November 23, 2023, and stated, “if you’re from New York City, do not take the train on Thursday evening.” While making these threats, Trout displayed multiple firearms, including two semi-automatic firearms with extended clips containing a total of 60 bullets, while stating, “that’s sixty shots – that’s sixty people dead.” Several recent postings on Trout’s Instagram account, in conjunction with witness statements, allowed law enforcement to identify Trout as the person responsible for making the threats.
He voice narrated the video with the following
“I’m finna [sic] go to New York and I’m just going to cause havoc on
the subway. (Audible laughter). I’m gonna shoot anybody I see on on
[sic] that fuckin’ train – I’m just gonna walk on that train and start
fucking unloading. Two 30s – that’s sixty shots; that’s sixty people dead.
I’m going to walk to Grand Central or some shit and just hit up
everybody on the fuckin’ train. If you’re from New York City, do not
take the train on Thursday evening, bro. These are 40s and they are
fucking big and dangerous and you will die.”
While narrating the video, he displayed two firearms with extended clips when discussing “two 30s” and provided a close-up of the ammunition when saying “these are 40s.”
Trout made his initial appearance in federal court in Tampa, Florida, on December 7, 2023, and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
Trout, originally from New York, has a criminal history, including aggravated assault, possession of a concealed weapon, resisting arrest without violence, and theft.
At the time of his arrest, he was out on bond in Pinellas County for carrying a concealed weapon, resisting an officer without violence, and petit theft.
The Pinellas Park Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.