A federal grand jury has indicted a 33-year-old man for threatening to kill US Vice President J.D. Vance during his visit to the Ohio region in January, the US Department of Justice said yesterday, Reuters reported.
Shannon Matri of Toledo, Ohio, is accused of threatening to take the life and cause bodily harm to Vance, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.
Matri allegedly stated, "I'm going to find out where (the vice president) is going to be and I'm going to use my M14 assault rifle and kill him," according to the indictment cited by the Justice Department.
Matri was arrested by U.S. Secret Service agents on Friday.
Experts have warned in recent years about political violence and threats of violence in a polarized United States. Earlier this week, a participant in the January 6, 2021, riots, who was pardoned by President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to a charge of harassment after being accused of threatening to kill Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
During the investigation into the alleged threats, federal agents also discovered multiple files of child sexual abuse material in Matri's possession, the Justice Department said.
Matri made his first appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Ohio on Friday and remains in custody pending a detention hearing, scheduled for Feb. 11, the Justice Department said.
If convicted of the charges, Matri faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250.000 for threatening the life of the vice president, the Justice Department said. It added that he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum statutory fine of $250.000 if convicted of the charge of possession of child sexual abuse material.
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