A suspect arrested in connection with shootings at a Democratic National Committee office in suburban Phoenix had an arsenal of more than 120 guns and 250,000 rounds of ammunition stashed in his home, according to prosecutors.
The discovery has raised concerns that the man may have been preparing for a politically motivated mass casualty event.
At an initial court appearance, Maricopa County prosecutor Neha Bhatia revealed the scale of the seizure made at the home of Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, following his arrest.
Along with the guns and ammunition, authorities found scopes, body armor, and silencers. A machine gun was discovered in Kelly’s vehicle. “This person was preparing to commit an act of mass casualty,” Bhatia said, emphasizing the significance of the weapons and ammunition found.
Authorities said the large stockpile also suggested extensive planning over time, further raising alarms both across the state and nationwide.
Gabriel Sandoval/AP Photo
Shootings Targeted Democratic Office
Kelly allegedly fired BB pellets and gunshots at the glass front door and window of the Arizona Democrats’ field office in Tempe during three separate incidents on Sept. 16, Sept. 23, and Oct. 6. Police recovered .22-caliber bullet casings from Kelly’s trash as part of their investigation.
Fortunately, no one was inside the office during any of the shootings. The Tempe office was one of 18 locations set up by Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign in Arizona and has since been shut down following the last incident.
Accusations of Political Violence
Kelly faces three felony counts of acts of terrorism, along with four other charges related to the shootings.
Authorities also accuse him of hanging political signs lined with razor blades in the affluent Phoenix suburb of Ahwatukee on Oct. 22.
These signs, criticizing Democrats and Vice President Harris, were found along with plastic bags containing a white powder labeled “biohazard.”
Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo
Kelly, a retired aerospace engineer who formerly received top security clearance, is being held on a $500,000 cash bond. His lawyer, Jason Squires, said Kelly has no prior criminal record and is not a flight risk.
Tensions in Arizona Campaign
Arizona has been a battleground state in the ongoing contest between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Political violence has increasingly marked the campaign season, with Republican presidential nominee Trump also being targeted in assassination attempts. Kelly’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 29, and his arrest adds to concerns about escalating violence in a particularly fierce election year.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
