According to Neptune Beach police, Caleb James Williams is facing charges of felony aggravated assault on a person aged 65 or older, along with misdemeanor exhibition of a dangerous weapon.

Police Chief Michael Key Jr. reported that Williams, joined by seven teenagers aged 16 and 17, arrived at the suburban Jacksonville library on Tuesday afternoon with the intent to "protest and antagonize the opposing political side." The group, displaying Trump flags, began shouting at a gathering of Harris supporters, escalating the situation. A photo, taken by a witness, surfaced showing Williams smiling while brandishing a machete in a threatening manner over his head. The threatened Harris supporters were women, aged 71 and 54.

Key emphasized that Williams' actions went beyond the bounds of free speech. "This goes way beyond expressing freedom of speech. To say your piece is your First Amendment protected right, but that goes out the window the moment you raise a machete over your head," he said. Neptune Beach, where the incident took place, is an affluent suburb with a population of 7,000 and a median income of $110,000.

Williams, who works as a busboy at a restaurant, was being held on $55,000 bail at the Duval County Jail following his first court appearance. If released, he would be required to stay 1,000 feet from any polling place, except to cast his own ballot, and to wear an ankle monitor. The minimum sentence for aggravated assault on a senior in Florida is three years in prison, with a maximum sentence of 15 years.

The seven juveniles who accompanied Williams have not been charged, but the investigation is ongoing. Duval County Democratic Chair Daniel Henry condemned the act as "a troubling act of intimidation," stressing that "Violence and intimidation have no place in our democratic process."

On the other hand, Dean Black, Duval's Republican chair, thanked the police for the arrest but attributed the heightened political tension to actions and rhetoric from Democrats and others. He urged for calm in the face of such tensions.

The case has drawn notable attention amid a particularly charged political climate, highlighted by President Biden’s comments in response to derogatory remarks made at a Trump rally about Puerto Rico. Additionally, past incidents involving threats against Trump also underline the volatile environment surrounding the election.