An Arizona man who was allegedly preparing to commit a mass casualty act was arrested for shooting at a Democratic campaign office.
Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, was arrested during a traffic stop Tuesday and charged with 10 counts, including committing a terrorist act, criminal damage and unlawful termination. reports the Arizona Republic.
Authorities say he is responsible for three shootings at the Democratic Party offices in Tempe, the last of which occurred on October 6.
No one was hurt in the shootings, but prosecutors say Kelly’s actions showed an escalation of suspected terrorist activity and that he was “preparing to commit a mass casualty act.”
He could also face additional charges related to an incident in which he allegedly left white powder stains on Democratic campaign signs and hung political signs covered in razor blades.
Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, has been arrested for shooting at a Democratic campaign office
Police said they began monitoring Kelly after receiving information from the public that a vehicle caught on surveillance camera at the Tempe campaign offices during the shootings matched that of Kelly, who was previously accused of stealing campaign signs. in 2022, Police Chief Ken McCoy said at a news conference Wednesday.
Officers gathered enough probable cause to arrest him at a traffic stop Tuesday, when dozens of law enforcement officers were seen surrounding his truck, McCoy said.
They found numerous weapons in his car and police realized that Kelly did not have his cell phone with him, leading officers to believe he was on his way to “potentially do something,” according to the Arizona Republic.
Authorities were then seen raiding his home in Phoenix on Wednesday morning, when FBI agents recovered more than 120 guns and more than 250,000 rounds of ammunition. according to Fox 10.
An Arizona Republic reporter also heard mention that guns were found in a master bathroom safe and that officers used the words “machine gun” and “silencers.”
Bulletproof vests were also found inside the home, according to court documents, as were BB guns and rifles consistent with those fired at the Tempe campaign office on Sept. 16, Sept. 23 and Oct. 6.
Democrats later abandoned the office for another at an undisclosed location.
Police reported three separate shootings at the Democratic campaign office in Tempe on September 16, September 23 and October 6.
Democrats later abandoned the office for another at an undisclosed location.
Additionally, a search of Kelly’s Google account revealed searches for the Democratic Party office address in Tempe and multiple searches related to the research and purchase of various firearms and accessories, including a search for a conversion kit for an AR-15.
His social media pages also revealed numerous posts of what authorities called “anti-Democratic ideology” and he made several small donations to organizations supporting former President Donald Trump.
Kelly was also allegedly caught posting “anti-democratic ideology signs” at various locations near his home from Monday to Tuesday “with clear plastic bags containing a white powdery substance” with a label saying they constituted a “biohazard.”
One of those signs read, in part, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
It was later discovered that the substance was simply baking powder.
‘He wants to scare the population. “He is escalating his violence and the State believes he is an absolute threat to his community,” a prosecutor said in court.
However, Kelly’s defense attorney argued that his client was a retired aerospace engineer who at one time had top secret clearance through his employer, according to the Arizona Republic.
He said Kelly used the firearm as a “sportsman” and that neither was illegally possessed.
“I understand that you are a sportsman, but I’m not sure what a grenade launcher has to do with it,” replied Judge William Cathon. Arizona Family Reports.
Phoenix attorney Paul Weich said Kelly was previously accused of stealing campaign signs when he ran as a Democrat for state representative in 2022.
Weich hired an investigator to find out what was happening with the cartels and was able to catch Kelly in the act.
Kelly now faces two counts of unlawful dismissal, two counts of shooting at a non-residential structure, three counts of committing an act of terrorism and three counts of criminal damage.
His bail was set at $500,000 cash only and his release order included house arrest with an ankle monitor.
“I want to be very clear as Maricopa County Prosecutor: threats, intimidation or violence towards political officials, no matter what party they are a part of, is completely unacceptable,” said Maricopa County Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell.
Kelly had previously been accused of stealing campaign signs in 2022, when Phoenix attorney Paul Weich was running as a Democrat for state representative.
He said he hired an investigator to find out what was going on with the signs and was able to catch Kelly in the act.
But despite the evidence, Weich said authorities did nothing to arrest him and charges were never filed.
Weich said he now fears that Kelly’s ability to evade law enforcement back then may have pushed him into further action.
“We saw that he obviously felt emboldened,” Weich said.