In-person early voting for the highly anticipated 2024 Florida general election is set to commence on Monday, marking a significant moment as voters prepare to participate in one of the most contentious elections in recent history.
An 18-year-old Florida man, identified as Caleb Williams, is currently in police custody after allegedly brandishing a machete at a polling station in Neptune Beach. This alarming incident unfolded on Tuesday, as Williams reportedly sought to intimidate voters who held differing political opinions. He had gathered with a group to publicly demonstrate his support for former President Donald Trump, according to statements made by law enforcement officials.
Williams faces serious charges, including aggravated assault against an individual aged 65 or older and improper exhibition of a firearm or dangerous weapon. This information was revealed by Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key during a news conference.
The frightening incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot of the Beaches Branch Library, which was functioning as an early voting venue in anticipation of the November 5 election. Williams arrived with a group of teenagers—seven of whom were aged 16 or 17—who had come to the polling site “to protest and antagonize the opposing political side,” Chief Key reported.
Witness accounts indicate that the situation escalated when Williams “brandished a machete in an aggressive, threatening posture over his head.” He specifically targeted two women, aged 71 and 54, as he held the weapon aloft, prompting immediate concern among those present.
The frightened women promptly called the police for assistance, expressing their fear over the escalating confrontation. Chief Key remarked, “to say I’m disturbed is an understatement,” underlining the seriousness of the situation.
He emphasized that “the group was there for no other reason but for ill intentions, to cause a disturbance,” clarifying that this was not merely a case of exercising First Amendment rights. “Voting in our country is one of the most sacred and protected rights we have. Ensuring everyone’s right to vote is crucial and it will not be impeded.”
The Neptune Beach Police Department shared an image on its Facebook page that vividly depicts Williams holding the machete above his head, along with a separate image showcasing the weapon itself. Additionally, they published his booking photo taken at the Duval County jail.
As of Wednesday morning, Williams remained incarcerated, according to reports from CBS affiliate WJAX-TV. The station also released video footage from the incident site, which captured the group of teenagers displaying flags and signs in support of Trump’s reelection campaign, chanting his name fervently. In the video, Williams appeared to have skewered one of the flags with his machete and waved it triumphantly in the air.
