Gadsden County man flagged as possible mass threat faces immigration judge in Florida

fox49.tv · By Nick Karmia · 2026-03-24T23:18:16.000Z

GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. -- A Gadsden County man once described by investigators as a possible mass attack threat is set to face an immigration judge tomorrow morning, as new details emerge about his case and what could come next.Louis Duxbury is being held at an immigration detention facility near Jacksonville. He was taken into custody last month after a tip about alarming social media posts.Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young said the case began when someone contacted his office after seeing what they described as concerning posts online. “The call came directly to me... the caller had stated that he seemed to have a hate for gays, blacks, just different folks, Muslims,” Young said.In 2019, Duxbury was convicted in the United Kingdom for inciting religious hatred and sentenced to 18 months in prison.After reviewing Duxbury’s recent online activity, FOX49 has not identified any direct threats related to the current case.Still, the tip led to an investigation and eventually Duxbury’s arrest, though not for a criminal offense. Duxbury was taken into custody for allegedly overstaying his visa and was turned over to immigration authorities.Young said investigators believed the situation could be serious. "We saw where there was something that led us to believe that It could be something major if we didn't look into this as it relates to a mass shooting," he said. Weeks after Duxbury’s arrest, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the alleged threats. From inside the detention facility, Duxbury told FOX49 he believed he was following the process and working toward legal status in the United States. “Cooperating with immigration the best I could to get everything sorted. And I was told I had a case and I don't have to worry about anything. And, you know, here we are,” Duxbury said.People in Quincy who know Duxbury say they are trying to help. Duxbury said members of the community raised $5,000 within 24 hours in an effort to find him legal representation. “They’ve done so much. And they're trying, they're trying so hard,” he said.Duxbury said he built relationships over four years by volunteering and attending church in Quincy. As he waits for his first hearing, he said those connections have helped him endure his detention.“They mean so much to me, and I know I mean so much to them. And every time I call them on here, I hear it all the time. Just how much they miss me, how much they want me back, how much, you know, they appreciate everything I've done for them,” Duxbury said.Tomorrow’s hearing is expected to lay out the next steps in Duxbury’s case as he appears before a judge for the first time.