A man arrested in connection with a shooting at a Democratic National Committee (DNC) field office in Tempe, Arizona, may have been planning a mass casualty attack, Maricopa County Attorney Neha said. Bhatia said in court on Wednesday. Associated Press.
Bhatia said federal agents reported finding more than 120 guns and more than 250,000 rounds of ammunition in the home of Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, after his arrest. She said investigators found a scope, bulletproof vest and silencer in his home, and a machine gun in the car he was driving.
At Kelly's first court appearance Wednesday, Bhatia said the sheer amount of ammunition and equipment found led authorities to believe that “this individual was preparing to commit an act of mass casualty.” .
Kelly is accused of three separate shootings at the DNC's Tempe office, which shares office space with Vice President Harris' campaign, on September 16, September 23, and October 6.
The shooting occurred early in the morning, and police said no one was inside at the time. In response to the mass shooting, the Arizona Democratic Party announced it would close its field office.
Kelly was charged with three felony counts of terrorism and four other charges related to the shooting. Cash bond was set at $500,000., If bail is possible, Kelly would be required to remain on house arrest with an ankle monitor.
According to the Associated Press, Kelly's attorney, Jason Squires, said his client has no criminal record, is not a risk to fly, and at one time had top security clearance as a former aerospace engineer. said.
Police said Kelly was also charged with “dangling” a suspicious bag containing white powder from several political signs lined with razor blades in Ahwatukee, Arizona.
Public concern about political violence is growing in the lead-up to the 2024 election cycle. Trump has been the target of two apparent assassination attempts in recent months, including one in which intelligence agents removed him from the stage midway through a rally after a bullet grazed his ear, leaving him bloodied.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
