Police have interrupted a plot to kidnap singer Lana Del Rey after an anonymous tip-off in Orlando on Friday. Michael Hunt, 43, was arrested armed with a knife waiting near the venue for the songstress’s Florida did on Friday and faces charges of aggravated stalking with a credible threat and attempted kidnapping with a weapon.
ARRESTED: Michael Hunt, for aggravated stalking & attempted kidnapping w/a weapon.
— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) 3 February 2018
After receiving a tip we deemed a credible threat, OPD got to him before he could get near singer Lana Del Rey last night at her show at Amway Center. pic.twitter.com/twVrOSxNqF
The Orlando Police Department received a tip-off from a caller who was friends with Mr Hunt on Facebook, who explained that he’d been sharing “cryptic and threatening" social media posts about Del Rey, whose real name is Elizabeth Grant.
A police spokesman said: "On Friday, Orlando Police Department determined this was a credible threat and worked swiftly to ensure the safety of everyone involved and of everyone who attended the show. We rely on the community to call in anything suspicious. If it weren’t for that tip, authorities might have been unaware of the threat posed.”
Orlando! Fort Lauderdale! Miami! Thank you so much for coming out and making those shows totally crazy and keeping the energy high
— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) 3 February 2018
We’re all feeling super lucky after a couple of days of amazing shows💕
that means
Atlanta, Georgia at the Phillips Arena is our next stop
Grateful. pic.twitter.com/qGVBUSEXGO
When he was taken into custody, Hunt was found with his two tickets to Lana’s gig and a knife, and officers were quick to add that “At no time was he able to make contact with (Del Rey)."
