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Boynton Beach man accused of making online threats toward Haitian co-workers
April 15, 2026
Austin Louis Hayward, 31, was arrested April 15 and charged with one count of written or electronic threat to kill or do bodily harm.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A Florida man was arrested after investigators said he sent Discord messages threatening to kill co-workers he identified as Haitian at a Boynton Beach job site, according to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office probable cause affidavit.
Austin Louis Hayward, 31, was arrested April 15 and charged with one count of written or electronic threat to kill or do bodily harm, a felony, the affidavit states. The arrest report lists his address in Boynton Beach.
Detectives wrote that the investigation began April 14 after a complainant contacted the sheriff’s office on behalf of an anonymous friend and reported that Hayward had been messaging on Discord that he wanted to kill his Haitian co-workers. Investigators said the person provided screenshots of messages allegedly sent by Hayward under the username “Poo cake.”
According to the affidavit, the messages included statements about killing co-workers, severing heads and striking one person with a car. Investigators wrote that the messages showed an escalation in aggression and a desire to carry out violence.
The affidavit says a witness who had known Hayward for more than a decade confirmed the Discord account and told deputies he believed Hayward could be dangerous. Investigators also said Discord confirmed that the phone number and email associated with the account matched information tied to Hayward.
When deputies went to Hayward’s Boynton Beach residence shortly after midnight April 15, they made contact with him outside a trailer at the home, the report says. After being advised of his rights, Hayward confirmed his phone number, email addresses and Discord username, according to investigators.
Hayward told deputies he worked as an unarmed security guard. He alleged ongoing workplace harassment and racial discrimination, saying co-workers spoke Creole around him, denied him restroom and meal breaks, and failed to relieve him from his post.
Investigators wrote that Hayward had recently stopped working after a series of incidents and that his mother had sent an email to his employer outlining his complaints. The affidavit says deputies later confronted him with the flagged Discord messages, including statements about murdering co-workers and thinking about their family members “dealing with trauma.”
The affidavit also states that Hayward was placed in protective custody under the Baker Act and told investigators he did not own any firearms.
