Baton Rouge, La. — An LSU student was arrested after, prosecutors say, he made an online threat to kill Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who had advocated for bringing a live tiger onto the grounds as part of a recent college football game.
Landry, a Republican, helped revive the school’s tradition of bringing a caged Bengal tiger into the stadium before kickoff for the first time in nearly a decade. Animal rights activists demonstrated outside the stadium.
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According to an arrest affidavit, Jackson Pemberton, 21, told state police investigators Tuesday that he was joking when he posted on social media, “I’m going to kill you Jefflandry,” tagging the governor’s account of X, media reported.
Pemberton told investigators he was “upset by the governor’s decision regarding the live tiger that was brought onto the LSU football field the previous weekend,” the affidavit states.
Gérald Herbert / AP
Pemberton, of Baton Rouge, was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for threatening a public official, news outlets reported. Jail records did not indicate whether he had an attorney or whether bail had been set.
In a statement Wednesday, an LSU spokesperson said the university was aware of the student’s arrest.
“We take any behavior that threatens the safety of individuals or our community very seriously,” the statement said. “LSU is committed to creating a respectful, responsible and safe environment for all.”
