Police in Tempe, Arizona, have made an arrest in connection with three shooting incidents targeted at Democratic campaign offices.
Jeffrey Kelly, 60, was arrested and accused of unlawful discharge, shooting at a non-residential structure, terrorism, and criminal damage. It is not clear exactly how Tempe Police arrested or found Kelly. The Tempe Police Department is holding a press conference scheduled at 4 p.m. Pacific time on Wednesday.
The first shooting happened on Monday, Sept. 16, the second on Monday, Sept. 23, and the third shooting occurred on Sunday, Oct. 6. All three shootings happened overnight, between midnight and 1 a.m., and nobody was injured, according to police.
Police also linked the suspect with a suspicious white substance found on anti-Democratic signs in Ahwatukee, Arizona, Tuesday.
Police said the person in question is also suspected of “hanging suspicious bags of white powder from several political signs lined with razor blades that he posted in Ahwatukee” earlier in the day. According to AZ Family, the signs with the suspicious bagged powder were critical of the Democratic Party reading, “DEMS LIE” and “DEMS KILL JEWS.”
The signs have since been removed by authorities.
BREAKING: Tempe police have made an arrest in 3 separate shootings of a DNC office, but they say the suspect also tied bags with a suspicious substance to political signs lined with razor blades. We’ll have the latest tonight at 9 and 10.@FOX10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/15vz6rhfLw
— Trenton Hooker (@trentonhooker) October 23, 2024
State Rep. Stacey Travers, a Democrat representing the Ahwatukee area, told the Arizona Republic that the issue involved hand-painted signs attached to palm trees. She said packages containing a suspicious substance were attached to the signs and looked to be rigged to release a powdery substance.
Hours later, an anthrax scare occurred at Republican Kari Lake’s Senate campaign office in Phoenix. The office was evacuated after the suspicious substance was found.
“Today, my office received a suspicious envelope, potentially containing anthrax — an attempt to intimidate and silence me. This isn’t just about me. It’s an attack on our movement. I won’t be intimidated, and those responsible must be brought to justice,” Lake’s campaign posted on social media about the incident.
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), her opponent in the Arizona Senate race, also posted a statement condemning the act.
“I condemn any act of violence or threats against Kari Lake, her office, or other public officials. My thoughts are with the staffer involved, and I’m grateful for the swift response by @PhoenixPolice, @PHXFire, and the hazmat team. I hope everything is resolved safely and quickly,” he wrote.
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It was not known if the two hazmat incidents were connected.
“Phoenix PD will be looking into this incident and conducting any follow-up investigation. We want to reiterate, there was no danger to the community, but our response will always err on the side of caution,” Phoenix police Sgt. Phil Krynsky said on the matter.