LSU student accused of threatening to kill governor who endorsed having a live tiger at football game

Jackson Pemberton, 21, was ‘upset with the governor’s decision’ to endorse bringing a live tiger onto the field at a recent college football game

A caged Bengal tiger is wheeled into the stadium on Saturday (USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con)

A Louisiana State University student has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill the state governor after he endorsed bringing a live tiger onto the field at a recent college football game.

Jackson Pemberton, 21, of Baton Rouge, was taken into custody on Tuesday over a post on X in which he allegedly threatened Governor Jeff Landry, according to an affidavit seen by the Associated Press.

“I am going to kill you jefflandry,” the post, tagging the governor’s account, read.

Landry helped revive LSU’s tradition to wheel a live, caged Bengal tiger into Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge before kickoff as the LSU Tigers took on the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.

It marked the first time in almost a decade that the tradition was carried out, sparking protests from animal rights activists outside the stadium, AP reported.

Following his arrest, Pemberton told investigators he had been “upset with the governor’s decision regarding the live tiger that was brought on the LSU football field this previous weekend,” the affidavit states.

Jackson Pemberton (seen in mugshot) was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill the governor (East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office)

However, Pemberton insisted to police that his online post had been made in jest.

Pemberton was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish prison on Tuesday evening on one count of threatening a public official, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office told The Independent.

The student allegedly threatened Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry (pictured speaking at a special session in the House Chamber on January 15 in Baton Rouge) (AP)

An LSU spokesperson told the AP that the university was aware of the student’s arrest.

“We take any behavior that threatens the safety of individuals or our community very seriously,” the statement read. “LSU is committed to a respectful, responsible, and safe environment for all.”

The Independent contacted LSU for comment.