An Arizona man has been taken into custody for the recent shootings at a Democratic National Committee office in Phoenix. Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, stands accused of the act, which involved no casualties as the office was empty at the time of the assaults. After his arrest, investigators discovered a staggering number of firearms in his home, over 120 guns along with more than 250,000 rounds of ammunition, according to Maricopa County prosecutor Neha Bhatia, as reported by FOX 10 Phoenix. The arsenal also included scopes, body armor, and silencers, and a machine gun discovered in his vehicle.
These findings, apparently indicating preparation for "an act of mass casualty," were shared by Bhatia during Kelly's initial court appearance. In a disturbing twist of events, Kelly is also accused of planting several razor blade-lined political signs in Ahwatukee, a suburb which has leaned Democrat in recent elections, according to U.S. News. Linked to the same individual, authorities found plastic bags labeled "biohazard" that contained a white powder suspended from these signs.
The attacks on the Democratic office occurred on three separate dates: Sept. 16, Sept. 23, and Oct. 6, during which Kelly allegedly fired BB pellets followed by gunshots, damaging the office's glass door and a window. Casings from a .22-caliber gun were also found in Kelly's trash, reportedly tying him to the incidents. Kelly, a retired aerospace engineer once granted top security clearance, now faces three counts of terrorism-related felonies among other charges, with bond set at $500,000 and house arrest stipulation should he post it.
His defense attorney, Jason Squires, argues that Kelly, who has no prior criminal record, is not a flight risk. In the backdrop of this localized violence, the wider political canvas shows Arizona as a critical battleground in the tense competition between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Beyond the confines of the Grand Canyon state, this election season is marred by political violence, seeing attempted assassination plots against the Republican presidential nominee, as further investigations continue to unfold across the Phoenix area, uncovering what looks to be politically motivated incidents.
Kelly's next court appearance is scheduled for the morning of Oct. 29 in Maricopa County Superior Court. The recent string of attacks has led to the closure of the Tempe field office, which was one of 18 locations used to organize campaign efforts for Vice President Harris.
