LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation plans to install cameras near the recently erected Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway signs in Lake County after reported threats to vandalize them, according to Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini.
The memorial signs, which have been in place for several weeks on Schofield Road, were unanimously approved during a Lake County Commission meeting in September, though the decision faced significant opposition during public comments.
[VIDEO: Hundreds gather in Lake County to memorialize Charlie Kirk]
Kirk, a conservative activist, was assassinated during an on-campus speaking event at Utah Valley University.
“Several unhinged, extreme-left Orlando area Democrats recently announced plans to destroy the signs,” Sabatini wrote in a social media post.
GREAT NEWS—We at the Lake County Commission were just informed by the Florida Department of Transportation that they...
Posted by Anthony Sabatini on Monday, October 6, 2025
When asked about the credibility of these threats, Sabatini said, “They’re very open, they’re not secret. It’s pretty radical, left-wing activist types from the Orlando area saying that they’re going to put bullet holes or paint on the signs.”
Sabatini provided screenshots of social media comments, including one that read “WHERE ARE MY GRAFFITI PEOPLE?”
Additional research revealed posts on X (formerly Twitter) showing an image of the sign with what appeared to be a photoshopped bullet hole. One social media exchange included the question “YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL SHOOT UP THE SIGN LIKE THEY DO FOR EMMET TILLS’? I DON’T,” with another user responding, “WE CAN ONLY HOPE.”
According to Sabatini, the state initiated the camera installation.
[VIDEO: ‘My heart breaks:’ Hundreds mourn Charlie Kirk at Central Florida Vigils]
“We put no request into the state. The state approached us, letting us know that they were going to be securing the sites,” he said.
As of Tuesday, no camera installation activity was observed at either sign location. The Florida Department of Transportation has not yet responded to requests for comment about the planned camera installation.