By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and SAM METZ (Associated Press)
PROVO, Utah (AP) — An armed Utah man accused of creating threats towards President Joe Biden was shot and killed by FBI brokers hours earlier than the president was anticipated to land within the state Wednesday, authorities stated.
Special brokers have been making an attempt to serve a warrant on the house of Craig Deleeuw Robertson in Provo, south of Salt Lake City, when the taking pictures occurred at 6:15 a.m., the FBI stated in an announcement.
Robertson was armed on the time of the taking pictures, in keeping with two legislation enforcement sources who spoke to The Associated Press on the situation of anonymity to debate particulars of an ongoing investigation.
Robertson posted on-line Monday that he had heard Biden was coming to Utah and he was planning to dig out a camouflage go well with and “clean the dust off the m24 sniper rifle,” in keeping with courtroom paperwork.
In one other submit, Robertson refers to himself as a “MAGA Trumper,” a reference to former President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
The posts indicated he did seem to personal a long-range sniper rifle and quite a few different weapons, in addition to camouflage gear referred to as a “ghillie suit,” investigators stated in courtroom data. Robertson was charged underneath seal Tuesday with three felony counts, together with making threats towards the president, courtroom paperwork present.
Robertson additionally referenced a “presidential assassination” and made an extended checklist of different on-line threats, together with towards prime legislation enforcement officers overseeing courtroom circumstances towards Trump: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“The time is right for a presidential assassination or two. First Joe then Kamala!!!” authorities say Robertson wrote in a September 2022 Facebook submit included within the filings. No legal professional was instantly listed for Robertson in courtroom paperwork.
No additional particulars have been instantly launched in regards to the taking pictures, which is underneath evaluation by the FBI.
At the Provo home the place the confrontation apparently came about and which is related with Robertson by public data, legislation enforcement might be seen Wednesday going out and in and eradicating objects.
A damaged window might be seen subsequent to the door and the blinds inside have been askew.
The highway resulting in the home was blocked by police.
The home is simply up the road from a gathering home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the Wasatch Mountains rising within the background.
Robertson had a customized woodworking enterprise however didn’t renew his license after it expired final 12 months, in keeping with state data. On LinkedIn, Robertson stated he labored for 45 years as a structural metal and welding inspector earlier than retiring and beginning his enterprise, saying he specialised in “custom designs.”
Biden is in the midst of a visit to the Western United States. He spent Wednesday in New Mexico, the place he spoke at a manufacturing unit that can produce wind towers, and is scheduled to fly to Utah later within the day.
On Thursday, he’s anticipated to go to a Veterans Affairs hospital to speak in regards to the PACT Act, which expanded veterans advantages, and maintain a reelection fundraiser.
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Whitehurst reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Colleen Slevin in Denver and Chris Megerian in Belen, New Mexico, contributed to this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”