A man from Sheridan, Wyoming, was arrested on Feb. 4 for allegedly sending death threats on Facebook to singer Tanner Usrey.
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According to The Sheridan Press, the messages were sent by Baptiste Brafford on Jan. 12. Usrey headlined the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, South Dakota. We have the details below.
A Message Told Tanner Usrey Not To Come to Rapid City
Singer-songwriter Usrey is perhaps best known for his song "The Light." It was featured in the fourth season of Yellowstone. Since then, his music has appeared in other Taylor Sheridan shows and in the soundtrack to the hit movie Twisters.
However, the singer isn't known for being politically outspoken. Yet, according to the affidavit of probable cause, Brafford seemed to threaten Usrey for something he may have said.
"Don't come to Rapid City, you could end up 'Charlie Kirk' spreading that same hate," the message read. "It be an arrow though."
Brafford is referencing the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The co-founder of Turning Point USA was shot and killed on Sep. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah, at a debate organized by the political advocacy organization.
"Hey a 30-06 (thirty-ought-six) would blow your head off," the message continued. "That's what killed Charlie Queen yet didn't blow his head off. You think it was a 06 (ought-six) but any good ole boy knows that was a .223 at best."
Usrey Became Worried
Sergeant Jacob Board of the Sheridan Police Department was asked by Rapid City law enforcement to check on the messages sent to Usrey. Law enforcement said the singer was so worried about them that he reported them to the authorities.
The singer said that he did not know if Brafford would take action. "People are crazy," he added.
When speaking to authorities in Sheridan about the messages, he said he remembered sending them about a month ago. He claimed he was drunk when he sent them and said he deleted the conversation.
Brafford was taken into custody on Feb. 4 for telephonic threats for communicating with Usrey electronically and threatening to inflict death. He pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor during his arraignment on Feb. 5.
The crime can be elevated to a felony if it involves repeated threats to cause injury or death. However, the charge currently remains a misdemeanor.
Grafford was released on a $5000 cash only bond on Feb. 5. He is not allowed to possess or consume alcohol, enter any bars or stores where the main item of sale is alcohol or possess any firearms.
A scheduling conference is set for March 10.
