'I want to shoot him': Man threatened to assassinate Trump then convinced a DA it was just an 'extremely poor joke,' but the feds aren't laughing, DOJ reports

President Donald Trump speaks during a dinner in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).

A New York man allegedly told a co-worker he wanted to shoot President Donald Trump while making a "gesture of a gun" with his hand, according to court documents. A local district attorney reportedly dismissed the remark as an "extremely poor joke," but federal prosecutors aren't laughing.

Christopher Vignogna, 27, has been federally charged with making threats against the president following an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and FBI. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for comments that Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick downplayed as a "poor joke" in an interview with Syracuse.com. Fitzpatrick told the outlet that he didn't expect Vignogna to be charged.

"Trump is coming to Syracuse. I want to shoot him," Vignogna told his colleague, according to a federal complaint. "The co-worker stated that Vignogna made a gesture of a gun in his hand while making this statement."

Federal prosecutors say Vignogna's colleague told human resources and the Rome Police Department about Vignogna's comments before federal authorities were contacted.

"On October 7, 2026, USSS and Onondaga County sheriff interviewed Vignogna at his residence in Syracuse, NY," the complaint says. "Vignogna confirmed that he made the above comments to his co-worker but stated that he was just joking and didn't think he would be taken seriously."

Vignogna's co-worker allegedly told investigators she was stunned by his statement and that he also asked about buying a gun.

"Vignogna asked [the co-worker] twice if her boyfriend could buy him a gun," the complaint says. "The co-worker stated twice, 'No, why?' After the second time, the co-worker stated that Vignogna stated, 'Trump is coming to Syracuse I want shoot him.'"

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Another colleague told investigators she heard Vignogna allegedly telling the co-worker about plans to "shoot everything up." He also kept "trying to talk politics with her even after the co-worker said no," according to the complaint.

Vignogna is due in court on Oct. 30 for a preliminary hearing.